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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, right foot, and left foot disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions in the previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened, and he is now entitled to a disability rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder.,His right hip, shoulder, elbow, hand, and left foot plantar fasciitis conditions are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain (low back disability) and right foot degenerative arthritis (right foot disability).,Service connection is denied for a lineal mid-forehead scar and benign paroxysmal vertigo (BPV).

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his plantar warts of the feet is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding functional loss or impairment caused by service-connected plantar warts.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete or insufficient evidence, and for additional development of his medical records. The issues include service connection for herpes simplex, a bilateral foot disability, residuals of frostbite in both feet, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to incomplete development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding his ankle, foot, knee, and TDIU disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right knee disability and other musculoskeletal issues, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of April 19, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability and right shoulder disability have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hemorrhoids has also been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for pes planus, gout, an ankle/foot disorder and a knee disability due to VA treatment in April 2007, finding no fault on VA's part or unforeseeable event.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder and schizoaffective disorder, depressive type; chronic sinus and allergy disability; obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB); right foot and left foot disabilities; right knee and left knee disabilities; and cervical spine disability have been granted service connection.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's right foot disability, effective from February 5, 2021. The decision also notes that a separate rating for metatarsalgia is not warranted due to pyramiding.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disorder was not caused by any in-service injury, disease, or event; has not existed continuously since service; did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service separation; and is not related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The evidence does not show that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and bilateral foot disability (excluding pes planus) are granted as service-connected. The cases of back disability and radiculopathy are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent rating for bilateral pes planus is denied as there is no evidence of receipt of the August 1976 notification letter, and the Veteran did not submit additional evidence within one year.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to February 14, 2019 and a higher rating thereafter is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for intervertebral disk syndrome prior to February 10, 2013 and a higher rating thereafter is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for intervertebral disk syndrome prior to July 25, 2008 is dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability has been reopened based on new and material evidence.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) is granted.,TDIU from February 14, 2019 is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for bilateral pes planus, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), right and left shin splints, or PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing new VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, sinus or nose disability, bilateral foot disability, and back disability. The issues of service connection for these conditions are now pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from December 20, 2020. The Board has granted TDIU.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including reviewing additional evidence submitted by the Veteran. The issues of hip, knee, and foot disabilities significantly impact the TDIU claim.