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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was denied. The reduction in his rating for bilateral palmar and plantar keratoderma from 60% to 30% effective June 13, 2017, was restored.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is not entitled to a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of January 17, 2020.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for sleep apnea and back problems. The remaining issues have been remanded due to lack of complete STRs, need for updated VA treatment records, and need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine disability, left upper extremity disability (left hand), and right upper extremity disability (right wrist fracture residuals) have been denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against finding these disabilities began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that the Veteran's preexisting condition did not worsen during his military service.

The Board dismissed the claims of service connection for a right great toe disability and bilateral plantar calcaneal spurs due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, a heart condition, foot conditions (pes planus, plantar fasciitis, neuropathy), and peripheral neuropathy. The Board also found that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his active duty service, including due to tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disability, bilateral foot disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found no evidence to support these claims based on the lack of current diagnoses or a link between the conditions and service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and bilateral pes planus need further examination to determine if they are related to service or have been aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left foot disability, originally claimed as broken bone right foot (stress fracture), is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need to obtain additional information from VA and private sources.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus due to inadequate reasons and bases, as well as issues related to VA's duty to assist and compliance with Correia and Sharp.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left foot, right foot, and low back disabilities have been dismissed. The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and hypertension has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral pes planus, low back disability, hypertension secondary to PTSD, GERD secondary to PTSD and duodenal ulcer, and obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD and duodenal ulcer due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition, diagnosed as degenerative changes and muscle spasm, was granted service connection.,Service connection for bilateral pes cavus with plantar fasciitis is denied. The Veteran's disability rating remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral foot disability and testicular disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus and other foot disorders, finding that there was no evidence of aggravation during service and that current disabilities were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus and right ankle sprain rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from January 20, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU based on the schedular criteria.

The Veteran's tension headaches have not been productive of characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months.,For the period prior to August 7, 2020, the Veteran's cervical spine disability was not productive of incapacitating episodes due to intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), ankylosis, forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, combined range of motion limited to 170 degrees or less, muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour, or the functional equivalent thereof.,From August 7, 2020, the Veteran's cervical spine disability has not been productive of forward flexion limited to 15 degrees or less, ankylosis, incapacitating episodes as defined by VA regulation, or the functional equivalent thereof.