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

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for a new examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left foot disability is at least as likely as not related to his service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for a left foot disability.

The Veteran's hearing loss is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it was aggravated by service and whether any increase in severity was due to its natural progression.,The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it was aggravated by service and whether any increase in severity was due to its natural progression. Additional steps are needed to verify the inservice injury that led to his current condition.,The Veteran's low back disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it began during service, manifested within one year after discharge, or is related to service. Further steps are needed to obtain in-service treatment records and verify stressors.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it began during service, manifested within one year after discharge, or is related to service. Further steps are needed to obtain in-service treatment records and verify the inservice injury.,The Veteran's asthma is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it was diagnosed while in service and whether any increase in severity is due to his service-connected ankle disabilities.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression) is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it began during service, manifested within one year after discharge, or is related to service. Further steps are needed to verify stressors.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a cervical spine disability as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine and/or bilateral foot disabilities due to inadequate opinions provided by the VA examiner. The case will be returned for further evaluation.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder with tendinosis of the rotator cuff is currently rated at 20 percent, but does not meet criteria for a higher rating due to functional impairment.,The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis with achilles tendonitis was initially rated at 30 percent and later increased to 50 percent. The current ratings are denied as the evidence does not support an increase in disability beyond these levels.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and granted service connection for a bilateral foot disability (to include pes planus). The denial was based on the lack of a current diagnosis of PTSD that meets DSM-5 criteria. Service connection for the bilateral foot disability was granted as it is considered directly related to active duty service.

The Veteran's initial and subsequent increased ratings for her left foot disability have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates related to his cervical spine disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection of low back, bilateral knee, and bilateral foot disabilities are also being remanded as VA examinations were inadequate.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral foot, right ankle, and left leg disabilities due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder condition, low back condition, bilateral knee conditions, bilateral plantar fasciitis, sinusitis, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, erectile dysfunction, right ankle condition, and sleep apnea and associated sleeping disorder. The appeals are not about service connection at all.

The Board has granted effective dates of September 1, 1992 for service connection of back disability and right foot disability. The claims for increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including an addendum VA medical opinion to determine if any diagnosed right foot disability is caused by or otherwise etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and left knee degenerative arthritis have been granted service connection. The initial rating for the left knee has also been granted at a 20% level.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, service connection for dizziness, and service connection for a right elbow condition due to inextricably intertwined issues. The claims for residuals of a left foot fracture and bilateral plantar fasciitis remain denied.

The claims for service connection have been granted, and the Veteran is now entitled to benefits for her claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine condition and bilateral pes planus, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.,Service connection was also denied for a right ankle condition as the Veteran's current disability is not shown to have been caused by his service-connected right ankle condition.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection claims due to a withdrawal of appeal by his authorized representative.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and bilateral knee strain are granted as service connected.,Service connection for the right ankle disability, characterized as Achilles tendon tear and instability of the right ankle, is denied.

The Board has determined that the remand is necessary due to inadequate reasoning in previous VA opinions and a need for additional development of the Veteran's service personnel records. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disability, including as secondary to service-connected bilateral ankle disability, and TDIU are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right foot pes planus (flatfoot) based on aggravation during active duty.