Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his PTSD and physical conditions like shoulder and back scarring, do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's asthma is granted as service connected. The issues of a separate compensable rating for ilio-hypogastric and/or ilio-inguinal neuropathy, service connection for plantar fasciitis, right knee degenerative arthritis (post meniscal repair), and left knee degenerative arthritis are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral foot disability and psychiatric disorder due to insufficient examination reports and incomplete development of in-service stressor events.

The Board has denied service connection for a heart condition and dental condition. The Veteran's flat feet, spots in eyes, stomach condition (constipation), dizziness, and back condition are all remanded for further examination and determination.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to worsening of the Veteran's service-connected right knee and right foot disabilities, as evidenced by his recent purchase of a brace. New VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral pes planus, but denied these claims. The Board also remanded several issues related to knee disabilities and TDIU prior to April 24, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 13, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to support his claims of a back disability, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, bilateral shoulder disabilities, OSA, and headaches. The claim for vitamin D deficiency is denied as it does not constitute a recognized disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate opinions from the February 2020 VA examiner regarding direct service connection and secondary service connection. The Veteran also has a spine disability, major depressive disorder, bilateral foot disabilities (plantar fasciitis of both feet and acquired pes cavus), and is seeking increased ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability was granted with an effective date of January 23, 1981. The rating assigned is 10% from that date to July 25, 2017 for the left foot disability and from April 25, 2016 onwards.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right foot disabilities due to an inadequate VA examination and failure to consider the Veteran's full medical history.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 30 percent, but no higher, for bilateral plantar fibromatosis is granted. The effective date remains February 11, 2011.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for reopening the previously denied claims of service connection for a dental condition and bilateral pes planus during his hearing. As a result, the Board dismissed these issues.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of a back disability, flat feet, and plantar fasciitis and hallus valgus as they were granted in an October 2021 rating decision.

The appeal of the October 2017 rating decision that combined BPP/BPF and DJD is denied. The issue of increased rating for lumbosacral strain, including separate ratings for radiculopathy and neuropathy, and service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to the lumbosacral strain is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and lower back disorder, as well as his request for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The remand requires additional development including obtaining new medical opinions to clarify the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 30, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA examinations and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral foot conditions, which are related to active service or a right ankle condition.

The Board has remanded all of the Veteran's claims due to new VA medical records being associated with his case and not reviewed by the AOJ. The Veteran was given a chance to respond, but did not do so.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right foot disability, including pes planus and plantar fasciitis, due to inadequate VA examination. The case is being returned for further development.