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

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis and hypertension due to insufficient evidence in the record, including a lack of a VA examination addressing all relevant service treatment records and a need for authorization from private medical providers.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, the preponderance of the evidence does not support the claims for right knee disability, left knee disability, dental disability, or low back disability.

The Veteran's disability picture for bilateral pes planus more nearly approximated a pronounced (marked pronation, extreme tenderness of plantar surfaces of the feet, marked inward displacement and severe spasm of the tendo achillis on manipulation) disability during the entire period at issue to include during flare-ups. The maximum schedular rating of 50 percent for pes planus is granted.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for various service-connected disabilities, including eczematoid dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right patellofemoral pain syndrome with shin splints and anterior compartment syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with shin splints and anterior compartment syndrome, left hip disability, diabetes mellitus type II, hypogonadism, esophageal stricture with esophageal polyp and Schatzki's ring, and ventral hernia status post-surgery with rectus diastasis.

The Board has remanded the case due to new contentions from the Veteran regarding his left foot condition, which is currently service-connected. The case needs further development with a medical opinion on whether obesity (caused by service-connected disabilities) caused or aggravated the Veteran's left foot disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remands and a need for another VA examination.

The Veteran's right and left foot plantar fasciitis, as well as frostbite residuals of the feet, are granted service connection.,A disability rating of 40 percent for lumbar strain is granted effective August 31, 2012.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his left and right foot disabilities, as well as service connection for a back disability. The RO must obtain VA treatment records from various facilities and attempt to obtain employment records from Overton Brooks VAMC.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to unclear diagnoses and a need for additional medical records, particularly from Social Security Administration (SSA). The Veteran's left foot disability is currently rated at an initial level of 10 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and left foot arthritis with calcaneal spur are currently rated as noncompensable. The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for these conditions, but the right ankle disability and left ankle disability remain at 10 percent ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to May 7, 2020, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hallux valgus, pes planus, and plantar fasciitis have been rated at the highest possible schedular rating since March 12, 2019. The current ratings adequately reflect his symptoms.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and secondary service connection for LLE radiculopathy. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than July 27, 2012 for the grant of TDIU and DEA benefits. The Veteran was found to have met the criteria for eligibility for schedular consideration of TDIU since March 26, 2011, but his unemployability due to service-connected disabilities began in March 2011 if not sooner, which is more than one year prior to the filing of the TDIU application. As such, an earlier effective date for TDIU cannot be awarded.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided for the Veteran's leg, hip, heel/foot, back, and neck disabilities were inadequate. Additional development is required to address these claims due to the lack of a proper nexus opinion regarding the etiology of the claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral plantar fasciitis due to deficiencies in the prior VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions in the previous VA examinations. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to address his claimed conditions and their relationship to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 10, 2011. The Board determined that the criteria for a TDIU were not met.

Service connection is granted for a right shoulder disability.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hand, wrists, hip, knee, elbow, ankle, and foot disabilities.,Service connection is denied for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities.