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

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral foot condition and whether it is related to service. The case will be reviewed with a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to CUE in a June 1987 rating decision and the November 2002 rating decision.

The Board has decided that the initial increased rating for the service-connected right foot injuries (rated as loss of right heel pad) from April 29, 1995 to June 30, 2008 needs to be reconsidered in light of newly submitted service treatment records. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its interdependence with the increased initial rating issue.

The Board has denied service connection for a right shoulder condition, back condition, neck condition, and bilateral foot condition as the evidence does not support that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right foot, hip, and knee disabilities. The evidence did not establish a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hammer toe, bilateral foot degenerative arthritis, and bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding that there was no evidence of in-service aggravation or onset of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral shoulder disorders, and bilateral knee disorders due to inadequate VA examination rationales and failure to address the heightened duty to explain the benefit of the doubt rule.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examination reports and other procedural issues.

The Veteran's appeals of the initial ratings assigned for eczema of the bilateral shins and bilateral plantar fasciitis are remanded due to incomplete evaluations. The VA examiner needs to provide an addendum addressing whether topical treatments affect the body as a whole, constituting 'systemic therapy' under Diagnostic Code 7806.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a service connection for bilateral foot sprains other than hallux valgus, and the current conditions are less likely related to service or service-connected hallux valgus.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral pes planus is related to service. The Veteran will need to undergo a VA examination to determine if there is any link between their current condition and their military service.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The claim for an intestinal disorder (IBS and diverticulitis) and bilateral pes planus has been remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an initial rating of 70 percent, and he is also granted a TDIU. The service connection for Plantar Fasciitis remains pending as the VA examination was not conducted yet.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary due to outstanding treatment records and remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including ankle, hip, and shoulder conditions. The Veteran will need new examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's pes planus of the right and left feet, as well as his tension headaches with migraine variants, are all granted service connection.,Service connection is established for pes planus of both feet due to worsening during service.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for plantar fasciitis is dismissed. The claim of entitlement to service connection for asthma is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete remand directives. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being evaluated for their potential impact on his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's right foot stress fracture and related disabilities, as well as whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right and left foot disabilities due to insufficient evidence supporting the determinations. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right foot plantar fasciitis, finding that they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule. The issues of entitlement to initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and shin splints have been remanded.