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

The Veteran's respiratory disorder, diagnosed as asthma, is granted service connection due to exposure to environmental hazards (burn pits). The issues of service connection for headaches, bilateral foot disability, obstructive sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and hypogonadism are remanded.

The Board denied the request to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a right foot disability, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, generalized anxiety disorder, and bilateral flat feet is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (depressive disorder with anxiety distress and flat feet with bilateral plantar fasciitis) preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Board granted the application to reopen a claim of service connection for bilateral foot disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral foot disability, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot and right ankle disorders due to incomplete development of records and insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, effective December 30, 2011.

The appellant withdrew their appeals for all service connection issues except PTSD and TDIU, resulting in the dismissal of these appeals.

The Board remands the matters of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, a compensable rating for bilateral plantar calluses, and the appeal seeking to reopen a claim of service connection for residuals of cold injury to the feet due to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled examinations and other circumstances.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for cysts on both breasts and increased rating for bilateral pes planus. The Veteran's claim for service connection is denied, while her request for a higher rating for bilateral pes planus prior to October 8, 2013, is granted but not greater than 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for the aggravation of flat feet. The right knee disability claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot and eye disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions obtained on remand. The issues of entitlement to a TDIU rating are also being remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left foot disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and active service or service-connected right knee disability.,The Board also remanded claims for bilateral lower extremity disabilities (other than sciatica) and for increased ratings for right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right foot disabilities have been granted. The decision also remanded the issues of rating ratings for a right fifth digit disability and viral conjunctivitis.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective August 20, 2019. The TDIU is granted on a schedular basis.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for bilateral foot disabilities and bilateral hearing loss, finding new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right knee disability, low back disability, left foot disability, bronchitis, sinusitis, and headache. The case is returned to the AOJ for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 60 percent for palmar-plantar psoriasis and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities has been denied. The maximum schedular rating available (60%) is already assigned, and the Board finds that the symptoms are adequately addressed by this rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation based on regular aid and attendance, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him helpless enough to require such assistance prior to May 18, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's preexisting pes cavus worsened during service, and if so, whether this worsening is related to his current foot conditions.