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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot and right knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The issues remain on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left foot tendonitis was denied.,Service connection for bilateral pes planus and metatarsalgia is granted, with the latter being resolved in favor of the Veteran due to conflicting evidence.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation due to housebound status or need for aid and attendance is remanded. The Board finds it necessary to obtain a VA neurology examination to determine the etiology of left foot drop, which may affect eligibility for these benefits. Additionally, a new VA aid and attendance examination is needed.

The Board has remanded two issues for further development: service connection for a left foot disability and service connection for a right hip disability, to include as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to previous remands and new evidence.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to cold weather, foot disabilities, neck disability, knee disabilities, and shoulder disability. The claims are being remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was rated at a maximum of 50% from September 12, 2012 onwards. The lumbar spine condition and right tibia and fibula fracture were remanded for further evaluation.,Accrued benefits ratings for the Veteran’s conditions are pending resolution of the issues on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain, bilateral shoulder strain, and left hand disability manifested by pain. The Veteran's continuous back, bilateral shoulder, and left hand pain symptoms since separation from service are considered.,Service connection is also granted for the aggravation of a pre-existing bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities was 60 percent, which did not meet the schedular threshold for a TDIU. The Board found that he had the mental and physical capacity to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to outstanding private treatment records and requests for authorization of these records. The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is being reviewed again.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 7, 2005 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10%, and a separate 20% rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) associated with the lumbar spine disability has been granted. Initial 20% ratings have also been assigned for degenerative joint disease of the right metatarsophalangeal joint of the right foot and left metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions have been denied. The lumbar spine disability has been granted a rating prior to September 14, 2020 and denied thereafter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and has denied service connection for this condition. The remaining issues are remanded due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, hallux valgus of the left foot, bilateral hammertoes, and fat pad atrophy of the feet are related to her service-connected bilateral ankle tendonitis. However, further examination is needed to determine if these conditions were aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to TDIU from June 5, 2018, to October 1, 2018, due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left foot disability and chronic headache disabilities. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis was rated at a 20 percent prior to August 15, 2016, and remains at that rating thereafter. The condition is characterized by severe symptoms including pain on movement, weight-bearing, non-weight-bearing, swelling, instability of station, and lack of endurance.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral foot disability and staphylococcus pharyngitis. The Veteran's claims for service connection are now pending.

The Board has granted service connection for a right foot disability and denied service connection for right ankle, left knee, and acquired psychiatric disabilities. The case is remanded for further development regarding a skin disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right foot disability. The case is remanded to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his right foot disability.