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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pes planus of the left foot was aggravated by an in-service injury, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing conditions were aggravated by his active-duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left foot disability and vertigo, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions were incurred in or related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot disability clearly and unmistakably preexisted his service, and was not aggravated by military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disabilities, including as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected pes planus with plantar fasciitis is granted a disability rating of 30 percent, effective December 3, 2008. The other claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus is related to his active military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further development of evidence, including verification of periods of active duty.

The Board denied service connection for left foot, left ankle tendon strain, and right ankle tendon strain conditions as they were not incurred during or as a result of any incident of service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right foot disability was aggravated by service. The issue of SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance/housebound status is also inextricably intertwined with this issue.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 100% disability rating since July 31, 2014.,The Veteran is also granted TDIU from August 21, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical records and inadequate examination. The Veteran's right ankle disability is presumed to be related to his service-connected condition, but the relationship of his left foot and left ankle disabilities to this condition needs further clarification.

The Veteran's claim for a separate right foot condition is denied as the evidence does not support the presence of a foreign object in his right foot.,The Veteran's increased disability rating claim for plantar fasciitis of the right foot is denied as the current schedular criteria are adequate to describe the severity and symptoms of his condition.,The Veteran's compensable disability ratings for scarring of the left leg and painful scarring of the left leg prior to December 20, 2019 are denied due to insufficient evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has withdrawn the ratings for major depressive disorder, pes planus, anemia, chronic conjunctivitis, and allergic rhinitis. The claims of service connection for bilateral shin splints and left knee condition are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation of his bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis due to a lack of medical evidence in the claims file prior to January 14, 2013. The Veteran is also required to undergo a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his disability.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, low back disability, and erectile dysfunction have been reopened due to new and material evidence. The remaining issues are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a heart disability is denied, and his claims for increased ratings are all denied. The Board finds no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of in-service exposure to herbicides or other incidents that would warrant presumptive service connection.

The Board has determined that new VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and residuals of a left hip strain due to recent worsening evidence and inconsistencies in previous evaluations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for psoriasis and a right foot disability, including hammertoes and degenerative arthritis. The reasons are that the Board failed to address evidence in the record regarding periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and/or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's pes planus is rated at 50% effective August 4, 2011. The appeal for a higher rating is denied as the maximum schedular rating has been granted.