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

The Veteran's petition to reopen her previously denied claim for service connection for lupus has been dismissed.,Her appeal for lung cancer service connection has also been dismissed.,The petition to reopen her previously denied claim for scar on abdomen as residual of cesarean section is denied.,Service connection for flat feet is denied.,The Veteran's chronic yeast infections are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration, including an evaluation of whether to refer the Veteran's bilateral pes planus disability for extraschedular consideration due to its severity and related secondary symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus is presumed to have existed prior to service, but a VA examination is needed to determine if it was aggravated by service or related to his active duty. For any diagnosed left and right knee disabilities, the examiner must also assess whether they are proximately due to or aggravated by the bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU have been denied. The appeal is remanded to further develop the record or grant the requested benefits.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis. The case is remanded to determine if the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions. The issues of psychiatric disability, left foot disability, and special monthly compensation are being reviewed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a right knee injury, flat feet, IBS, and athlete's foot have been granted. The effective date for the award of service connection for tinea pedis (athlete's foot) is set at April 23, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as his disabilities are not severe enough to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus was denied due to lack of new and material evidence, but his claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted.,Service connection was established for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus based on in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss in the right ear. The other issues have been remanded due to incomplete or insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus was denied due to lack of evidence showing permanent worsening during service. The reopened claim for tinnitus has not been substantiated by the provided evidence.,An effective date of April 29, 2018, is granted for a 50% disability rating for unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective date for TDIU. The Veteran will be afforded VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral plantar fasciitis, chronic lumbosacral strain, left knee strain with degenerative joint disease, and right knee degenerative changes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records, clarification of his dates of service, and further examination.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's left foot disability, including its relationship to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including restless leg syndrome and foot disabilities, all of which are alleged to be related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or due to active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and requests for further information from the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and remanded the cases of right foot disorder, to include plantar fasciitis, and sinus disorder.

The Veteran's disability rating for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis was increased to 30 percent from July 7, 2011 to August 24, 2019. The Board found that the evidence supported a higher rating based on marked deformity and swelling of the feet.

The Veteran's service-connected Hashimoto's thyroiditis is granted a 60 percent rating, effective September 7, 2011. She also receives TDIU benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination, and a new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar warts.