Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded several service connection claims, including those for sleep apnea, allergic rhinitis, GERD, gastritis, an acquired psychiatric disability, ring finger injury of the right hand, foot disability (heel spurs), and shin splints, all secondary to service-connected sinusitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed foot disabilities, specifically whether the notation of pes planus at separation could contribute to chronic residual conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient nexus opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral pes planus.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot disability, but denied service connection for urticaria, angioedema, and bronchitis.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for right palm/hand and right toes/foot disabilities, as there was a failure to obtain an examination prior to the RO's decision.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection, compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, and TDIU due to various issues including DMII, bilateral frozen feet, right foot surgery, and pes planus.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a completed VA Form 21-8940 from the Veteran and conducting further development of his employment history.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus and TDIU prior to June 4, 2015. The Veteran's service-connected conditions include bilateral pes planus, glaucoma, GERD, right ankle sprain, scar, cervical spine strain degenerative disc, bilateral shin splints, asthma, and tinea pedis.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further examination to determine their etiology.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for a VA examination to determine its relationship to his service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's hypertension and colon polyps are remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence regarding herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's GERD, Barrett’s esophagus, gall bladder removal, left foot disability, right foot disability, eye disability (diabetic retinopathy), and kidney stones are remanded for a VA examination to determine their relationship to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for peripheral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to obtain records from the appropriate repositories and the Adjutant General of Florida regarding the Veteran's dates of active duty training (ADT) and inactive duty training (IDT). Additionally, a new medical opinion is needed to address whether metatarsalgia and hallux valgus are at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by service-connected pes planus with plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's appeal of higher initial disability ratings for bilateral pes planus is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal at a Board hearing.,The Veteran’s claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), hypertension, cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure (claimed as hypertensive heart disease), tinea pedis of the right foot, tinea pedis of the left foot, obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to GERD/gastritis), a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD/gastritis, a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right knee are remanded.,The Veteran's appeal of higher initial disability ratings for bilateral pes planus is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal at a Board hearing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability ratings have been remanded due to the need for further examination of her left knee.

The Veteran's right foot pes planus is granted a 10% rating, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a low back injury, thoracic spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and right foot disorder. The Veteran's conditions are found to be at least as likely as not related to her military service.

The Board has ordered an additional VA opinion to determine if the Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus and hammertoes were aggravated by his service periods.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, specifically pes planus. The decision finds that the Veteran's current condition is due to his active duty military service and was aggravated beyond its natural progression.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of pes planus was denied as the earliest possible effective date is October 4, 2015 when VA received his petition to reopen a previously denied claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on loss of use due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral foot disabilities are related to his service-connected back and left knee disabilities. The Veteran is asked to provide additional treatment records, particularly those since October 2019.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ankle disability, finding that it had its onset in service and is related to his job as a truck driver.