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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment for the entire appeal period, and his claim for a TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of appeal by his representative.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand finger conditions, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and bilateral knee disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,Service connection will be determined based on whether there is a direct relationship between the claimed conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and granted. The Board also remanded several issues related to his low back, migraines, bilateral foot, and right leg disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions and the need for additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a skin disorder, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's right foot disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate opinions regarding his neck disability and bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's traumatic arthrotomy of the right-hand index finger, right foot plantar fasciitis and heel spur, lumbar spine disabilities, and IBS have been reopened due to new evidence received since their previous denials.,Service connection has been granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty/active duty for training military service.,Flat feet, a skin disorder, and severe trench foot (both feet) remain in dispute and require further development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone prevents him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding obesity and its relation to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hallux valgus and pes planus, finding that the Veteran's preexisting conditions clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and were not aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of the Veteran's National Guard service records and the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the plantar fasciitis is considered an 'injury' or 'disease' incurred during active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sarcoidosis, a left foot disability, and a back condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA is required to provide new examinations or opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted a 50% rating for bilateral pes planus and granted secondary service connection for bilateral hallux valgus. The issues of increased ratings for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity femoral nerve and right lower extremity are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, plantar fasciitis, ankle disorders, diabetic neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities have been dismissed. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted.,Remaining issues of service connection are remanded: low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, chronic skin disorder, OSA, hypertension, migraines, diabetes, and CFS.

The Board has denied service connection for a right foot disability and bilateral shin splints. The TDIU claim is being remanded as the Veteran does not meet the percentage standards set forth in VA's rating schedule but may be eligible for an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury is denied.,Service connection for the right shoulder disability, cervical spine disability (prior to October 6, 2020), and bilateral acquired pes planus with hallux valgus are also denied. The Veteran's GERD symptoms have been granted an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for PTSD, as well as the grant of a TDIU effective September 2, 2013, are all granted. The OSA claim was reopened based on new evidence received after the initial denial in 2012.

The Veteran's back disability, disabilities of the knees, bilateral pes planus, and acquired psychiatric disability are granted with a 70% rating. The appeal is dismissed for the issue of service connection for shoulders.