Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that there is no clear and unmistakable error in the April 2018 rating decision assigning an overall combined evaluation of 80 percent. The Veteran's lumbar spine, right ankle, bilateral foot, and left wrist disabilities are all currently under consideration for service connection.

The Veteran's GERD is service-connected as secondary to his Parkinson's disease. He received a 40% rating for his lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and an increased rating for his right ankle fracture residuals.

The Veteran is granted TDIU from April 22, 2016, to September 21, 2020. The right shoulder disability claim remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The rating reduction for the Veteran's service-connected low back disability from 60 to 40 percent, effective January 1, 2018, was improper and restored. The rating reduction for bilateral pes planus from 30 to 10 percent, effective January 1, 2018, was also improper and restored.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for plantar fasciitis of the left foot was reopened and granted.,Service connection was denied for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).

The Board has determined that substantial compliance with its prior remand directives to obtain the Veteran's outstanding VA and private treatment records, schedule a VA examination for his bilateral leg disabilities, schedule a VA examination for his bilateral ankle disabilities, and schedule a VA examination for his bilateral pes planus was not achieved. As such, the claims are being remanded once again.

Service connection is granted for bilateral pes planus, bilateral knee arthritis, and bilateral hip arthritis.,An initial compensable rating for limitation of motion of the right index finger was denied. An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right thumb injury was denied. A separate 10 percent rating, but no higher, for residuals of inguinal hernia was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left foot disorder and a left hip disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,There is no credible evidence showing that the Veteran's current left foot or left hip disorders began during or are otherwise related to his active duty service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to outstanding medical records and inextricably intertwined with other pending claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral pes planus, right knee disability, left knee disability, and right hip disability) prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disability was reopened due to new and material evidence. The Board found that the Veteran had continuous symptoms of a left foot disability since her active duty service, which is sufficient to establish service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if any of his knee or foot disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected tear of the UCL of the right thumb is not rated at its maximum due to limitation of motion. The case has been remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities have been granted initial ratings of 20 percent each.,No higher rating is warranted for the service-connected ankle conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot degenerative arthritis and plantar fasciitis, finding it at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service. Service connection was denied for heel spurs, osteophytes, and Reiter's syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, to include bilateral pes planus, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that his flat feet began during service or were caused by an in-service injury. For TDIU prior to June 1, 2011, the Veteran's claim was also denied as there was insufficient evidence to show he was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and sustaining a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 27, 2005.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, bilateral degenerative arthritis of the first metatarsal phalangeal joints, and pes planus have been granted.

The Veteran's claim for a restoration of a 60 percent evaluation for tinea pedis, effective August 1, 2015, is granted.,The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for tinea pedis is denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is denied as not related to service.,The Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating under current regulations.