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

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The appeals are related to various musculoskeletal conditions, PTSD, and a respiratory disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error in not obtaining all relevant service treatment and personnel records. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for obesity as it is not considered a disease or injury for which direct or secondary service connection may be granted.

The Board has denied service connection for pes planus, bilateral ankle disability, shin splints, and GERD as there is no current diagnosis of a disability or objective medical evidence indicating the Veteran experiences pain that causes a functional impairment of his earning capacity.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected right foot disability was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for loss of use of the right foot, and thus, a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and degenerative changes in the right foot joints are granted as service-connected.,Service connection is also granted for a left foot disability, but the issue of back disability remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as a skin condition, all secondary to his service-connected plantar fasciitis. The VA will conduct medical examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, but denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to include as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at 50 percent, and his right knee chondromalacia is rated at 10 percent. The left foot disability was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, tarsal coalition, hallux valgus, right foot disability, and tarsal coalition, hallux valgus, left foot disability due to inadequate opinions in the July 2020 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding private podiatry records from Kaiser Permanente. The Veteran provided authorization for these records in December 2021, and they are currently being obtained.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was rated at 10 percent prior to June 30, 2016 and denied a higher rating. The extension of convalescence for the left foot surgery from August 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017 was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone have not rendered him unemployable at any point during the appellate period, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran withdrew all his claims before a decision was made by the Board.

The Veteran's headaches, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and depressive disorder are all found to be related to his active service.,Service connection is granted for these conditions. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the left knee disability, right foot disability, right eye disability, sleep apnea, kidney disability, or skin disability began during service.

The Veteran's left foot disability, characterized as pes planus, hallux valgus, plantar callus, and bunion with first metatarsal phalangeal joint degenerative joint disease, is found to be at least as likely as not related to his active service.,The Veteran's right knee and left knee disabilities are also found to be at least as likely as not related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for pes planus, migraines, and dizziness due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the legal standards of aggravation and pre-existing conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination findings and a need for additional opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's foot conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but the Veteran's bladder disability and right foot disability remain pending. The case is remanded to provide a VA examination for these issues.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for further development, including scheduling of VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to a lack of an adequate opinion addressing the impact of flare-ups on his knee, ankle, and foot disabilities.