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

The appeal for service connection of various disabilities, including a right lower extremity disability, has been dismissed as the Veteran's claim was granted in full. The remaining issues have been remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and bilateral flatfoot disability due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran testified that his current disabilities are related to service, specifically overcompensating on his left knee from his left knee tendonitis causing him pain in his right knee.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, sarcoidosis of the lungs, and left foot plantar fasciitis due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The appeal for service connection for right foot disability, including hallux valgus deformity, with hammertoes and plantar wart is remanded. The appeal for service connection for left foot disability (excluding second toe) is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for pes planus, eye disability (sensitivity to light), and sleep apnea due to a lack of VA examinations. The Veteran must be provided with another opportunity to undergo these examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral foot disorders due to their inextricably intertwined nature with the issue of service connection for pes planus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, asthma, pes planus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are denied. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee disability remain on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is not found to be related to his right foot conditions, including flat foot, plantar fasciitis, calcaneal spur, and degenerative arthritis. The Board denied service connection for these conditions as secondary to his lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck, left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to in-service injuries. The claims are being returned for additional development.

The Veteran's initial rating for pes planus with plantar fasciitis (feet disabilities) prior to June 24, 2019 was granted at a 30 percent disability rating. From June 24, 2019 and no earlier, the Veteran is now rated at a 50 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot disability, including pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and arthritic changes, is related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's left and right foot disabilities are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's internal bleeding (claimed as fluid on the knee/hydrarthrosis) is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's upper back disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's lower back disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's tinnitus rating is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective January 15, 2020. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected foot disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment as of this date.

The Board has determined that there have been issues with compliance regarding the remand directives for several of the Veteran's claims, and thus these matters are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis are rated at 30 percent from February 22, 2017. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating prior to this date.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis but has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left ankle conditions secondary to bilateral plantar fasciitis due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae scars on the face was denied due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or relationship to service. The claims for scar of the right hip, plantar fasciitis of the left foot, and plantar fasciitis of the right foot were granted as they are considered direct service connection cases.,The Veteran's GERD is considered direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, right thumb disability, and bilateral pes planus require additional examinations to determine their current severity. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for alcohol use disorder, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, folliculitis of the shoulders, back, hips and thighs, subluxation and chondromalacia of the left knee, bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus, de Quervain's tenosynovitis of the upper extremities, osteoarthritis of the bilateral great toes, and right and left shoulder strain have been withdrawn. The Veteran has been granted service connection for PTSD.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for insomnia, residuals of an injury to the left index finger, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, chronic tendonitis and patella dislocation of the right knee, right knee scar, deviated nasal septum, allergic rhinitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus from February 10, 2004 to April 26, 2005 as the Veteran's bilateral pes planus did not more nearly approximate a 'pronounced' acquired flatfoot disability during this period.