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

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete records and procedural issues, including a missed hearing.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current low back, cervical spine, hearing loss, tinnitus, hepatitis C, acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)), bilateral pes planus, and a cervical spine disorders. The case is REMANDED for these purposes.

The Board denied increased ratings for postoperative carpal tunnel syndrome of the left and right hands, as well as pes planus. The Veteran's conditions are deemed to be service-connected based on direct evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot disability, back disability, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his active military service.,Service connection is established for all four issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, myomectomy cystic fibroids (MCF), plantar fasciitis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was not aggravated by her military service.

An increased rating of 40 percent for a low back disability is granted from August 2, 2018.,An increased rating of 30 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted from August 2, 2018. An increased rating in excess of 30 percent is denied.,An increased rating in excess of 10 percent before August 2, 2018 is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at 50 percent, the maximum allowed.,Right and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome are both rated at their respective maximums of 30% and 20%, respectively.,Cervical spine degenerative disc disease is rated at 10%. The Veteran's lumbar strain has been granted staged ratings, with a 10% rating from September 21, 2003 to September 16, 2019 and a 20% rating thereafter.,The Veteran’s claims for higher initial ratings are denied.

The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis, residuals of fracture 5th metatarsal right foot now claimed as residual fracture of the right ankle is granted a 30 percent disability rating for the period prior to October 3, 2019. A higher rating in excess of 30 percent is denied for the period from October 3, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral foot pes planus, finding that it did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to lack of evidence showing aggravation during service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including back disability, headaches, diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, bilateral foot condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented her from being gainfully employed since January 28, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no current diagnosis of either condition and that they were not related to service.

The Veteran's low back, left hip, and left knee disabilities are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's bilateral foot pes planus is rated at 50 percent since January 18, 2021. The condition has been productive of marked pronation and tenderness of the plantar surfaces of both feet.

The Veteran's left foot disability and hallux valgus have been granted increased ratings, with the left foot disability receiving a 20% rating since November 1, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, including left foot, right foot, and left knee disabilities. The Veteran's weight gain or obesity is being evaluated as a potential intermediate step between his service-connected right knee disability and his current disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted as service-connected.,His hypertension does not warrant a compensable initial disability evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and to obtain outstanding treatment records. The issues include service connection for flat feet, residuals of left inguinal hernia repair, residuals of right inguinal hernia repair, great toe disabilities, PTSD, lumbar strain, hypertension, and hiatal hernia with reflux.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that they do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.,New and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen the claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability as secondary to pes planus. The claim is remanded for further development.,The Veteran's right knee condition was found not to be caused by his service-connected pes planus, and it is also not aggravated by pes planus beyond its natural progression.,The Veteran's left knee condition has not been evaluated in this decision as the issue remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including service connection for psychiatric disability, right foot heel spurs, and TDIU prior to July 21, 2016.