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

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and a left foot callus. The VA medical opinions provided were not favorable to the Veteran's claims.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to incomplete VA treatment records, insufficient examination opinions, and need for additional medical evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right and left foot disabilities prior to July 19, 2016 were denied. The RO granted increased ratings from July 19, 2016.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right foot disability, including pain and plantar fasciitis, as well as bilateral pes planus. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has decided to remand both issues on appeal due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and right foot condition. The claims will be returned to the AOJ for further review.

The Veteran's right foot plantar wart results in moderate functional impairment prior to January 6, 2020 and moderately severe functional impairment since then. A 20 percent rating is granted for the period after January 6, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea and pes planus was granted with an effective date of January 25, 2008. The Board found that the onset of both conditions occurred during service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and providing a VA examination to address the Veteran's claims for neck disability and bilateral foot disability.

The Board has remanded the cases of flat feet and skin disability for further review due to additional VA treatment records being received.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis was granted a single 30 percent disability rating from February 7, 2021. The previous ratings for the right and left feet were denied.

The Board denied service connection for back and right or left foot disabilities, as well as claims for increased ratings for cervical spine strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, chondromalacia of the knee, and instability in the knees. The claim for TDIU prior to August 11, 2014 was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and bilateral pes planus have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 17, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected hairy cell leukemia is not rated as permanent and total disability, and his secondary service connection claims for various conditions are also denied.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and/or bilateral pes planus, as well as to determine if these conditions are related to his service-connected back and knee conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, left toe disability, and right toe disability due to lack of evidence showing the conditions were incurred or aggravated during service.,Service connection was also denied for skin disorders and back disorders. The Veteran's skin condition is currently under consideration as it may be related to post-service treatment, while his back and knee disabilities are being reviewed based on in-service reports.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral flat feet with right foot plantar fasciitis and Morton's neuroma, including any additional symptoms such as swelling, numbness, and varicose veins.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected disabilities is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of the disability, including whether it was caused or aggravated by any other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral plantar fasciitis with calcaneal spurs, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, diverticulitis, left ankle achilles tendonitis, and bilateral feet tinea pedis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a foot condition, including bilateral pes planus, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA medical opinion on the nature and etiology of his foot disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back and left knee conditions, have worsened to the point where he requires constant use of an ambulatory device for walking. The Board finds a remand necessary to assess the severity of these conditions and their impact on daily activities.