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

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete records from a correctional facility where the Veteran was incarcerated during the appellate period.

The Board has remanded the claims for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, left foot disability (plantar fasciitis), and right foot disability (plantar fasciitis) due to inadequate medical opinions in prior VA examinations. The Veteran's service connection claims are intertwined with his rating claim.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a left foot and left knee disability due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The Veteran's complaints of continuity of symptomatology, in-service treatment records, and parachute jumps were not considered.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development on the issues of service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and bilateral flat feet.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, bilateral foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and lumbar spine disability as there was no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and military service.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for right foot myofascial syndrome (also diagnosed as right foot pes planus) prior to November 25, 2019 is denied. The Veteran's left ankle disability secondary to the service-connected right foot disability and TDIU are remanded.,The decision on these issues will be deferred until a final determination can be made.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for left and right foot bunions were granted, while a disability rating of 30 percent was granted for bilateral pes planus prior to November 9, 2015. The appeal is not about service connection but rather the evaluation of existing disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for right and left foot disabilities, as well as the claims for payment or reimbursement for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only, and special monthly pension (SMP) based on the need for aid and attendance. The Veteran's testimony will be accepted for purposes of the medical nexus opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left foot condition, including plantar fasciitis, and Reiter's Syndrome due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran testified about his symptoms during and after service, and provided credible testimony regarding his current diagnoses. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disability is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and an examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disabilities and a skin disability due to unclear medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his inability to attend scheduled VA examinations. The issues include psychiatric disorders, migraine headaches, left ankle condition, bruxism, bilateral pes planus, and left foot bunion.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that the September 2013 decision was not based on additional STRs obtained after the November 1971 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine, lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left foot disorders. The VA is requested to obtain expert opinions on these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome and arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, as well as radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves of the lower extremities. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are currently rated at 90 percent combined.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle, left ankle, right foot, and left foot disabilities as well as an acquired psychiatric disability (other than PTSD) due to a lack of medical nexus opinions linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for arthritis of the left thumb was dismissed as she stated satisfaction with the current rating.,The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings from March 6, 2020, for DDD of the lumbar spine, plantar fasciitis of the bilateral feet, and migraine headaches were also dismissed due to her satisfaction with the current ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for tinea pedis, but remanded the issues of bilateral pes planus and right knee disability due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability, left ankle disability, and right foot disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses of degenerative arthritis and patellofemoral syndrome are less likely than not incurred in or caused by complaints of knee pain that occurred during service to include parachute jumps.,There is no evidence of a current left ankle disability, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any current right foot disability was incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left foot disorder and initial compensable rating for right foot disorder prior to June 20, 2013 were denied. The claim for increased rating for right foot disorder from June 20, 2013 was granted with a 20% rating.