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

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition did not worsen during service.,The Board also denied service connection for lumbar spine disability, concluding that the condition existed prior to service and was not aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate examinations in previous remands. The Veteran's bilateral pes cavus, plantar fasciitis, osteoarthritis of various interphalangeal and metacarpal phalangeal joints, and plantar and posterior heel spurs; left ankle strain; and right ankle strain need to be re-evaluated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for uterine fibroids, fibromyalgia, bilateral hip disability, bilateral hand and foot disabilities (frostbite), low back disability, bilateral knee disability, and headache disability have all been denied.,There is no current evidence of these conditions in the record.

A 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is granted, and service connection for bilateral pes planus is granted. The issues regarding right foot disability other than pes planus and left foot disability other than pes planus are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right foot pes planus is being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding the etiology of the condition. The examiner must provide an opinion on whether the pre-existing pes planus was permanently worsened by both periods of active duty service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations obtained are inadequate for adjudicating the Veteran's claims. Therefore, an additional remand is necessary to obtain new examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as a need for additional medical opinions regarding his low back disability, hearing loss, tinnitus, acid reflux, chronic cough, and heart disability.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as being proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right knee and left ankle disabilities. Service connection was denied for a bilateral foot condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus and major depressive disorder have been granted service connection. The Board has also remanded several issues related to his lower extremities, lumbar spine, ankles, feet, and kidneys due to the need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have met the percentage requirements for a TDIU since October 1, 2013. The Board has granted a TDIU on and after this date.

The Veteran's right foot disability is granted service connection. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sinusitis and a back disability, as secondary to service-connected bilateral knee and feet disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability. The Veteran's claims were based on his in-service complaints of pain but the evidence did not support a finding that any current disabilities originated during or were related to his military service.,There is no indication that the Veteran experienced chronic symptoms of these conditions prior to their onset post-service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and bilateral foot disorders due to potential secondary service connection, requiring additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's disability ratings do not meet the schedular threshold percentage requirements for consideration of a TDIU prior to November 30, 2017. The case was remanded in April of 2019 and is now being remanded again due to new evidence indicating that the Veteran should be granted TDIU on an extra-schedular basis as of November 30, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development on several issues, including service connection and increased ratings.,An effective date earlier than June 2, 2014, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The appeal of the claim for service connection for a right foot disability is dismissed. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PFB, left foot disability, hypertension, headache disability, and right knee and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, specifically plantar fasciitis and hallux valgus (bunions), was rated at 10 percent from January 17, 2012 to December 4, 2019. The rating has been increased to 20 percent for this period.

The Board has remanded the issue of whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected disabilities, specifically his foot and spine conditions. The case will be reviewed by a medical professional who will provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's obesity, caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, contributed to his sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral flat feet and left knee disability as additional development is needed to determine if his conditions were aggravated by service, and to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the severity of his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right foot disability and right ear hearing loss due to new evidence submitted since the last denial. The right ear hearing loss claim is granted, but the right foot disability claim remains pending as it requires further examination.