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

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and right foot pes planus as there is no evidence of a current disability separate from the Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis, and his preexisting right foot pes planus did not worsen during service.

The Board has dismissed all the veteran's appeals for various disabilities, including cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis with heel spurs and metatarsalgia, posterior thigh muscle (left thigh disability), hypertension, inguinal hernia, kidney stones, and generalized anxiety disorder. The appeals were withdrawn by the veteran's representative on September 21, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision found no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in previous opinions and a need for further examination. The Veteran's left foot disability is being evaluated again, with particular attention to whether it is related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral foot disability, including strains and callouses, is related to his service. As a result, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's tension headaches are granted service connection. Service connection for tonsillitis and bilateral pes planus is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to her failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The Board has determined that these matters must be remanded to reschedule the examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, is granted. The Board finds that the current diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder is related to his active military service and grants this claim.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral foot and knee conditions, finding that the Veteran's pes planus preexisted service and was not aggravated by in-service activities. The neuropathy of the feet is not related to service, while the knee osteoarthritis is attributed to intercurrent causes.

The Board has remanded the TDIU issue due to a lack of examination addressing the Veteran's current disability picture and his ability to engage in sedentary employment.

The Board has found that a remand is necessary to complete the development required in previous Board remands, specifically referring the issue of TDIU prior to July 10, 2014, on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of his right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's lower limb disability is related to service. The claims of service connection for lupus, cataracts (both eyes), bilateral knee disability, and pes planus are denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for plantar fasciitis, Morton's neuroma, pes planus, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the feet have been granted. The claim for thyroid disorder is remanded.,Service connection has been established for plantar fasciitis on a direct basis due to its onset during active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a bilateral hip disorder, a right thigh scar, pes planus, and vision disability due to lack of current disabilities at the time of filing or during the pendency of the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability and bilateral pes planus, finding that there was no evidence of aggravation during active service.,The Veteran's preexisting conditions were noted at enlistment and did not show any increase in severity during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claim for a VA examination to determine whether the Veteran's hallux valgus is a congenital 'disease' or instead a congenital 'defect', and if it is a disease, to determine if it was aggravated by any event or injury in service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran’s neck, back, right hip, and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to address the etiology of the Veteran's left knee and right foot disabilities, as well as their relationship to his service-connected fibula fracture and ankle disability.