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

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination regarding all diagnosed bilateral foot disorders, including service-connected plantar fasciitis and other conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him unemployable, as he retired due to non-service-connected conditions and his physical limitations are not severe enough to prevent substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claim for right foot pes planus is granted, and he receives a 10 percent rating for his right foot calluses. The Board has remanded the issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee DJD due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's pes planus and lumbar spine disability are rated at 40% each. The Board has ordered a remand for further examination to determine if the Veteran meets criteria for an earlier effective date or higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, back, left knee, and right shoulder disabilities due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral conjunctivitis is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, and a higher rating is not warranted.,For the period from January 21, 2016 to October 23, 2017, the Veteran's dermatitis was rated at 60 percent, but no further increase in rating is granted.,From October 24, 2017, the Veteran's dermatitis does not warrant a disability rating higher than 60 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to September 7, 2012 was granted. The issues of service connection for left knee disability (claimed as secondary to right knee disability), right wrist disability, and lumbar spine disability (claimed as secondary to right knee disability) were remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disability and remanded other claims due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for clarification on medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder due to inadequate reasons and bases in the prior decision. The case will be returned for further development and appellate review.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left hip, and bilateral foot disability as secondary to service-connected bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in the prior decision.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination regarding the Veteran's claimed foot conditions, including bilateral plantar fasciitis. The Veteran will need to provide records from private physicians and undergo a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a foot disability and left ankle disability have been denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that led to the current conditions.,For his back pain, the Veteran has not met the criteria for a rating greater than 40 percent.

The Board has ordered a remand for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral flatfoot and plantar fasciitis due to conflicting medical evidence and lack of clear and unmistakable aggravation during service. The case will be reviewed by an examiner who must provide additional opinions on these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examination opinions and additional development is required.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a foot disability has been granted, but the appeal is dismissed as moot since no further issues remain to be decided.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral foot and right knee disabilities. The case will be returned to the Board after compliance with appellate procedures.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, residuals of cold injury to the feet, and other psychiatric disorders were denied as there was no evidence of a verified in-service stressor or diagnosis of residuals of cold injury to the feet. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for gout was denied as there is no evidence showing that his gout initially manifested during service, nor did it have a nexus with service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder (presumably sleep apnea), peripheral vascular disease, right leg cellulitis, hypothyroidism, and migraine headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his service records. The VA will attempt to obtain any missing STRs and provide opinions on whether these conditions are secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if a higher rating is warranted for the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including spondylosis and spinal stenosis with IVDS and degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and left foot plantar fasciitis. The TDIU issue has also been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Bilateral Pes Planus have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or that the conditions are related to military service.