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

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a left foot disability due to additional development being needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, and TDIU due to incomplete records and legal framework issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and other foot conditions, finding that there is no evidence of in-service aggravation or incurrence of these conditions.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis prior to January 6, 2020 and a rating in excess of 30 percent after that date are being remanded due to the need for clarification on whether he uses orthotics or other assistive devices.

The Veteran's hallux valgus and bilateral pes planus have been evaluated, but an increased rating or TDIU has not been granted.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed bilateral foot disability or diabetes mellitus, type II during the period on appeal. The claim for service connection is denied for these conditions. For the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, the Board has determined that further development is needed to confirm whether the Veteran had a diagnosis and to determine if it is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability and his left foot disabilities. The VA is instructed to provide an opinion from a podiatrist or orthopedist addressing the etiology of each diagnosed left foot condition, as well as whether any are caused or aggravated by the service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, low back disability, bilateral ankle disability, left knee disability, and bronchitis. The decision also found that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the November 1985 and September 1987 rating decisions denying these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the spine, shoulder arthritis, flat feet, a metal plate in the cervical spine, and back spasms as there was no evidence that these conditions began during or were related to service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as service connection claims for hypothyroidism, GERD, a low back disability, left and right elbow degenerative joint disease, gout (claimed as bilateral foot disability), COPD, kidney, and prostate disabilities. The Board has also dismissed the Veteran's appeals of these issues due to his withdrawal of them.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for chronic maxillary sinusitis has been granted. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether a compensable rating is warranted, and thus awarded a 10% rating effective December 8, 2015. Service connection for bilateral pes planus remains pending due to remand.

The Veteran was granted effective dates of January 1, 2014 for various disabilities including bilateral plantar fasciitis with bilateral calcaneal enthesopathy, left and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with arthritis, left elbow lateral and medial epicondylitis with arthritis, right elbow lateral and medial epicondylitis with arthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.,The effective dates were granted based on the Veteran's original claim filed in July 2013.

Service connection is granted for right foot plantar fasciitis and pes planus, as well as left foot heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, and pes planus.,Service connection is also granted for a headache disability. However, service connection for functional impairment due to chest pain is denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided are inadequate for several of the issues on appeal. The claims must be remanded to obtain additional medical opinions addressing the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities, as well as any aggravation or secondary service connection.,The Board also notes that some of the issues have not been fully developed with respect to obtaining treatment records and other evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and a need for an adequate aggravation opinion regarding the Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral foot disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and bilateral shoulder disability due to incomplete information from Social Security Administration (SSA) and United States Postal Service (USPS).

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, loss of sense of smell and taste, sleep disorder, left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and left foot disability. The Veteran is to be afforded VA examinations to address the nature, extent, and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot arthritis, as well as bilateral pes planus (flat feet/pes planus), were denied. The claim for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus prior to August 17, 2020, was also denied.,For the lumbar spine disability, an increased rating beyond 40 percent was not granted due to lack of evidence of unfavorable ankylosis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral plantar warts and bunions require a remand for further evaluation, as there is no recent VA examination to assess their current severity. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.