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

The Veteran's service connection claims for left hand and left foot disabilities have been denied.,Service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right foot has also been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues of right ankle, bilateral foot, and low back disabilities are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the appellant's service-connected conditions and their impact on his discharge from military service. The VA will need to obtain new medical opinions to determine if the appellant meets one of the exceptions to the 181-day time in service requirement.

The Board has remanded the claims for a foot disorder and back disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service. The Veteran's statements about his symptoms during service are considered, but an addendum opinion is needed from a VA examiner.

The Board has granted effective dates of July 30, 2001 for both the TDIU and DEA benefits. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities made him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and pension benefits due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand orders. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations, provide income and expenses information, and obtain medical opinions regarding his psychiatric disability and pes planus.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development to obtain additional treatment records and supplemental medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's plantar fasciitis is related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral eye disorders and bilateral foot disorders, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the Board found that his combined rating does not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, but he may be eligible for an extraschedular TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities and unemployability.

The Veteran's mood disorder with depressive features is granted as secondary to his service-connected right ankle sprain and post-surgical procedure residuals. The other issues are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of his right hand disability, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), low back disability, bilateral pes planus, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of his bilateral plantar callosities is denied. A 50 percent rating, but no higher, effective May 1, 2015, is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is dismissed due to withdrawal.

The Board denied service connection for bone spurs of the feet, acquired pes cavus, and plantar fasciitis as they are not related to active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right foot and right big toe disabilities are not related to his service, as he was not on active duty or ACDUTRA when they occurred. The low back disability is also denied due to lack of evidence showing an injury during service.,Regarding the right hip or thigh disability, the Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if a spider bite during service caused the current condition. For the acquired psychiatric disorder, the Board has found that more information is needed regarding the alleged incident in Ecuador.

The Veteran's initial claim for a disability rating of 10 percent for left foot plantar fasciitis has been granted. The condition is currently rated as moderate based on the evidence provided.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder and right foot disabilities, as well as his requests for earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits. The appeals are being dismissed due to the Veteran opting into the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) review system.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus, finding that there was no increase in severity during service and thus not triggering the presumption of aggravation. The preexisting condition was noted on entry into service but did not worsen during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding clear and unmistakable evidence that the condition preexisted service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability due to new and material evidence. However, the case is remanded as it requires further examination to determine if any diagnosed condition is related to service.