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

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen her claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability and denied her claim for service connection for pes planus. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding the lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Appellant's periods of active duty and OCS from June 1991 to March 1992. The VA is required to verify these dates and provide an addendum medical opinion on whether her claimed conditions are related to service, including aggravation during OCS.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to incomplete development and inadequate medical opinions. The issues include PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, lumbar spine disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various lower extremity disabilities, including right hip, left hip, right ankle, left ankle, and right foot disabilities, as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examination opinions and incomplete development regarding herbicide exposure. The claims will be further developed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in service, which could affect his claims for heart disabilities, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot pes planus and hallux valgus due to inadequate opinions regarding aggravation of these conditions by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for pes planus and ulcerative colitis due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is asked to provide additional medical records, complete a VA Form 21-4142, and undergo examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claim for a new VA examination and opinion to determine if the Veteran's left foot and ankle disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected right foot and right ankle disabilities.

The Board has dismissed all the issues of increased ratings and initial compensable ratings for various foot, knee, and sinus conditions due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral flat feet, plantar fasciitis and calcaneal enthesopathy was increased from 30% to 50% effective December 30, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver, left knee disability, and bilateral flat feet due to potential service connection based on exposure at Camp Lejeune. The VA is required to obtain medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and clarification regarding his service connection claims, particularly focusing on whether his current sleep apnea, low back pain, pelvic pain, numbness in feet, and numbness in hands are related to his service-connected Dercum's disease.

The Veteran's right foot and low back disabilities are remanded for further evaluation due to the need for a VA examination to determine if they are related to her service-connected bilateral hip and shin splint disabilities.

The reduction from 20 percent to 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability was improper, and the 20 percent rating is restored. The issues of entitlement to higher ratings for other conditions are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral foot condition, including whether it is related to service or secondary to his service-connected pes planus. The AOJ must obtain a clarifying medical opinion on all diagnosed foot disabilities and their likely etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for dental disability, hepatitis B and/or C, and bilateral foot condition due to inadequate efforts in arranging examinations while he was incarcerated. The Veteran is required to undergo further medical evaluations.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including determining if the Veteran's right ankle disorder is related to her service-connected right calcaneal stress fracture.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus and bilateral hearing loss due to potential issues with the opinions provided in the July 2016 VA examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left foot plantar fasciitis, right and left foot pes planus, residuals of a left 4th toe fracture, and asthma are all granted. The Board found that the current diagnoses were related to in-service symptoms and findings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis with arthritis and pes cavus due to inadequate reasons or bases in previous determinations, as well as failure to differentiate symptoms caused by each service-connected condition.