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

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not assigned a specific rating or effective date as these issues are still pending.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, lumbar spine disability, right leg condition, and left shoulder disability have been granted service connection. The effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral pes planus is set at February 10, 2015.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision is remanded due to issues with scheduling of VA examinations.,Service connection was not granted as there was no evidence linking any current foot or hearing conditions to active service.

The Board denied service connection for right knee, left knee, and left foot conditions as well as bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not found to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete examination reports and outstanding medical records. The issues of service connection for lower back, right ankle, left foot, right foot, and right hip disabilities are being remanded as well as the issue of service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Veteran's left foot condition, characterized by a plantar callus and bone spur, was found to not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent from March 23, 2016. The Board denied the claim for an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is granted, as the evidence shows he requires regular aid and assistance due to his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 50 percent rating for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis with heel spurs from February 22, 2018 is granted, as the reduction was improper based on the evidence showing no actual improvement in his disability.,The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation for loss of use of the right hand is remanded due to a potential misinterpretation of the regulations.

The Veteran's right knee disability is determined to be secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine and plantar fasciitis disabilities, with all doubts resolved in favor of the Veteran.

For the period prior to May 12, 2017, the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis was rated as noncompensable. From May 12, 2017 onwards, a 10 percent rating is granted.,The Veteran's PTSD remains at a 30 percent evaluation and requires further examination to determine if it warrants an increase in the future.

The Board has remanded the claims for a cervical spine disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to inadequate examinations.

The Board has determined that additional attempts should be made to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records, as they are crucial for determining his eligibility for service connection. The appeal is remanded in order to address these missing records.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's pes planus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot and left ankle disabilities due to insufficient consideration of all medical and lay evidence, including the Veteran's assertions of in-service symptoms. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board denied service connection for right and left foot pes planus, as the Veteran's preexisting condition did not increase in severity during service.,Service connection was also denied for a right and left foot disorder other than pes planus, as there is no evidence of such disorders during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, bilateral pes planus, bilateral hallux valgus and bilateral hip disabilities, to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral feet disabilities due to insufficient development of evidence regarding the onset or relationship of these conditions to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as there is no justiciable case or controversy regarding service connection for a right foot disability, to include residuals of a wart or callous removal.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral foot condition, and back condition due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.,No new or material evidence was presented to reopen the claims for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus was aggravated by military service and granted service connection for flat feet with a 50% evaluation effective June 21, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for PFB prior to July 19, 2012, from September 20, 2012, to May 9, 2013, and from May 12, 2014, to February 24, 2016; a rating in excess of 30 percent from July 19, 2012, to September 19, 2012, from May 10, 2013, to May 11, 2014, and from February 25, 2016, to August 25, 2016; and a rating in excess of 10 percent from August 26, 2016, to the present has been dismissed.