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

The Board has remanded the case for further action on earlier effective date claims related to service connection for various spinal and lower extremity conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board has dismissed it.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability, right lower extremity chronic muscular strain, left lower extremity chronic muscular strain, right ankle synovitis, left ankle synovitis, right foot plantar fasciitis, and left foot plantar fasciitis have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for any of these conditions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS and a headache disability were also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at 30 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating as there was no evidence of pronounced bilateral acquired flatfoot.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right foot, left foot, vascular, hip, and knee disabilities as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder, all of which are found to be proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected orthopedic injuries.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, left foot pes planus, and right foot pes planus due to incomplete service treatment records. Additional opinions are needed based on new evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of lumbar strain, anxiety, and plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain substantially gainful employment during the periods of TDIU claims from July 29, 2013 to June 3, 2014, and from July 31, 2015 to October 18, 2016. From December 1, 2016 to March 1, 2017, the Veteran's combined disability rating was 90 percent, which rendered his TDIU claim moot due to the assignment of a 100 percent schedular rating.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's flat feet, finding that it was present at birth and not aggravated by service. The left knee injury and right knee pain claims were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic headaches, bilateral foot disabilities (other than calluses), left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left foot disability (other than calluses), and right foot disability (other than calluses) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a scar and bilateral foot disorder due to insufficient evidence of their etiology. The Veteran was hospitalized during service for pneumonia and empyema, which may be related to his current conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left foot disabilities, finding no current diagnoses. The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are currently rated at 50 percent, but the claim is remanded due to issues with secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.

An increased rating of 10 percent for a left knee disability is granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, umbilical hernia, right knee, and left foot disabilities were previously denied but are now reopened due to new evidence.

The Veteran's right foot disability has been rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's lower back disability has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's left foot plantar fasciitis, which may be related to his left total knee replacement surgery. The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The remaining issues have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, frost bite of finger and toes, gout of knee and feet, and lupus due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous VA examinations. The case is now returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 were not met.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is now rated at 50 percent effective April 9, 2019. The Board found that his symptoms more closely approximated pronounced bilateral pes planus.