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

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot disability and remanded the issue of service connection for an appendectomy with residual stomach scar.

The Veteran's right foot disability, including her psoriatic arthritis, is related to an in-service injury and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of May 25, 2011. The claims for tobacco use disorder, left foot disability, right foot disability, lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left leg disability, and right leg disability were all denied as not related to service or due to other pre-existing conditions.,The Veteran's claim for sleep apnea was denied. The claim for residuals of a left forearm scar was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the previously denied claims. The claim for bilateral pes planus is granted, but the other conditions are denied.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from June 22, 2016 to June 5, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities. The issue of TDIU subsequent to June 5, 2019 is dismissed as moot.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral pes planus and a neck disorder, finding that the Veteran did not meet the burden of showing his conditions were aggravated by service. The Board also found no current disability related to these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for migraine headaches and neuropathy of the left sciatic nerve as secondary to a lower back disability. The Veteran's claims for left foot and right foot disabilities, as well as his lower back disability, are remanded for further examination and opinion.,Service connection cannot be established for migraine headaches or neuropathy of the left sciatic nerve due to lack of evidence of current diagnoses.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis and left foot plantar fibromatosis were granted in a November 2020 rating decision, rendering the issues moot.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to a failure to provide adequate pre-decisional duty to assist. The issues include gastroesophageal reflux disease, thoracolumbar spine disability, left shoulder disability, left wrist disability (carpal tunnel syndrome), left knee disability, right knee disability, and right elbow disability.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him in need of regular aid and assistance, which is granted for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound.

The Board denied the Veteran's motion for revision of a November 2002 rating decision that continued a 10 percent rating for status post stress fracture of the bilateral calcanei with history of plantar fasciitis, finding no CUE.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left ankle, thoracic spine, right foot, headache, chest and sleep disturbance disabilities have been reopened. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen these claims.,However, the claims are being remanded as further examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of each disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis and in-service onset of symptoms meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various conditions, including back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral plantar fasciitis and flatfeet, and allergic rhinitis were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues (back disability, left knee and right shoulder disabilities, bilateral foot disorder, and headaches) are remanded due to insufficient evidence or need for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the severity of his thoracolumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and bilateral pes planus. The claims are also remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's right foot calcaneal spur is currently asymptomatic and does not warrant a compensable evaluation.,For the period prior to October 4, 2019, the Veteran’s left foot plantar fasciitis with calcaneal spur was found to have mild symptoms that did not meet criteria for an increased rating under DCs 5276 or 5284.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia, left foot disability, right foot disability, and back disability. The Veteran was not diagnosed with these conditions during or near the pendency of his claims.,The Board also denied service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity as secondary to a back disability. Service connection for a back disability has not been established.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus was found to not meet the criteria for a compensable rating during the period on appeal prior to the most recent portion, as he failed to cooperate in scheduling a VA examination. For this portion of the appeals period, his claim is denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis should be remanded due to an inadequate May 2017 VA examination. The Veteran must be provided a new VA opinion to address whether her current bilateral plantar fasciitis is related to her in-service treatment and complaints of foot pain.