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

The Veteran's service-connected knee, ankle, and foot disabilities have been granted earlier effective dates of March 1, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected right foot disability alone does not render him unemployable due to its severity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of private treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ganglion cysts, right wrist and left wrist were denied. The Veteran was granted initial compensatory disability ratings for hypertension and cardiomyopathy, as well as an initial 20 percent rating for a left shoulder condition. Other service-connected conditions received increased or new disability ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various lower extremity disabilities due to inadequate examination opinions and missing VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee conditions and left foot condition due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran needs to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature, etiology, and severity of his conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability and bilateral foot disability (claimed as fallen arches/pes planus) due to the lack of evidence showing a current disability related to service, including any chronicity or aggravation during service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and chronic bronchitis due to additional development being required.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information in the November 2020 VA examination regarding all past and present foot disorders diagnosed, including osteoarthritis, gout, and DJD. The examiner is asked to provide opinions on whether each condition clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service, if so, whether it was clearly and unmistakably NOT aggravated by service beyond the normal progression of the disease, and if not, whether it is at least as likely as not related to military service.

The Veteran's left foot disability, characterized by degenerative joint disease and a plantar fibroma, is rated at 10 percent. The Board also granted the Veteran's request for TDIU effective July 1, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as she withdrew her appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision. Her claims for higher ratings, service connection, and TDIU have been addressed in recent rating decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for headaches and bilateral plantar fasciitis due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are currently considered direct service connection cases.

The Veteran's initial rating for loss of use of the right foot with loss of the right heel pad, fixation of the right calcus, pes planus and hallux valgus is granted starting from April 29, 1995. The TDIU claim is remanded to consider extraschedular considerations.

The Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities are not rated higher than 20 percent.,Pseudofolliculitis barbae was not rated higher than 10 percent prior to June 28, 2018, but is now rated at 30 percent effective that date. Pes planus remains rated at 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for pes planus. However, the remaining claims of service connection for foot disability (other than pes planus), scoliosis, and back pain are remanded due to need for additional development.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral foot condition and remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral ankle condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left hip, foot, and knee disabilities due to internal inconsistency in a previous VA examiner's opinion. The RO is required to obtain an updated medical opinion regarding whether these disabilities are related to his service-connected low back disability or aggravated by other service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and bilateral pes planus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and her active military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be service-connected, with an effective date of March 21, 2017.,An earlier effective date of March 21, 2017 for the 40 percent rating assigned for lumbosacral strain and discogenic disease is granted.,Service connection for a gastrointestinal disability (claimed as diverticulosis) is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for a prostate disability (claimed as prostate cancer) is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, heart condition, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are all remanded due to lack of evidence regarding their relationships with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for osteopenia is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and extraschedular TDIU, finding insufficient evidence to determine if he is unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.