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

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete development and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's conditions are related to his active duty service, but there is insufficient evidence or adequate opinion regarding the specific exposure basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis, left hip disability, right hip disability, left shoulder disability, and back disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service injuries.

The Veteran's PTSD is not productive of occupational and social impairment warranting a higher rating.,The Veteran has no worse than Level I hearing loss in each ear, which does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.,Service connection for pain in the left foot with swelling, numbness, tingling toes, and frost bite is denied as there is no evidence of such disability related to service exposure or cold injury.,Service connection for pain in the right hand with numbness and tingling is denied as there is no evidence of such disability related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment, and the Board finds that his TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received, granting the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral pes planus, lumbar spine disorder, epididymitis, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder.,The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received, granting the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, lumbar spine disorder, epididymitis, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to new evidence being added and requires further review by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right ankle disorder is secondary to her service-connected right foot disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment prior to June 12, 2004.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there was no evidence of pronounced symptoms such as marked pronation, extreme tenderness, or severe spasm.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right ankle disabilities, as well as her jaw disability. The claim for service connection of a right foot disability is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new VA treatment records being added to the case file. The Veteran's appeal will be reviewed by the AOJ for these additional records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ankle condition, finding that new and relevant evidence supports a determination of etiology between his current disability and active military service.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for bilateral pes planus has been granted, with a current evaluation of 30 percent effective August 23, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, right ankle strain, and left ankle strain are productive of functional loss of use of the feet. The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the loss of use of both feet.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including anxiety, depression, insomnia, toenail onychomycosis, athlete's foot, rashes on crotch, chloracne, diabetes mellitus type II, right upper extremity neuropathy, left lower and right lower extremity neuropathies, and a left-hand condition. The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses for these conditions or any nexus to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several service-connected conditions have been dismissed as the claims were withdrawn by his representative during a hearing. The Board has also determined that additional examinations are needed to assess the severity of his ankle and knee disabilities, as well as whether he has radiculopathy.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, hepatitis C, and left ear hearing loss disability. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the right ear hearing loss disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hip condition. The issues of service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral shin splints, and bilateral ankle conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed conditions and their relationship to service.