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

The Veteran's left foot disabilities, including degenerative joint disease and plantar calcaneal spurs, are found to be related to his service. He is also granted SMC by reason of being housebound due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's GERD and OSA are not related to service, and were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is not related to service, and was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right foot fourth metatarsal fracture.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right hand pain, sinus disability, right knee and ankle disabilities, cervical spine disability, left foot plantar fasciitis, thyroid disability, gallbladder removal with residuals, hysterectomy, and SMC based on loss of use. The VA is instructed to obtain medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions in light of the Veteran's periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus was aggravated by his active duty service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to separate ratings for the Veteran's bilateral foot disabilities due to a lack of an adequate VA examination and medical opinion. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on eleven service-connected disabilities is dismissed due to the absence of a notice of disagreement (NOD) for the October 2017 rating decision that awarded the maximum, 50 percent rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a left foot disability and tinnitus have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various hip, foot, and low back disorders due to inadequate medical opinions in the prior decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's December 2019 VA Form 10182 Notice of Disagreement was improperly accepted as an AMA appeal. The AOJ must issue a statement of the case for the issues decided and the Veteran will have the option to continue the appeal under either the legacy system or the modernized appeals system.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service department records and outstanding private podiatry records. The Veteran's complete active duty and Reserve service records need to be obtained, as well as any non-VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination findings regarding the Veteran's right foot disability and its relationship to service-connected conditions.

Service connection is granted for right ankle degenerative changes status post syndesmosis injury with open reduction and internal fixation, effective December 10, 2014.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability (asthma), low back disability, penile disability, and testicular disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that the development conducted does not comply with the October 2017 Board remand. The Veteran's last known mailing address and phone number have been updated, and VA examinations are scheduled for various disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if any current foot disabilities or acquired psychological disability were incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD service connection is denied, and his SMC based on aid and attendance/housebound is also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was rated at a 10 percent prior to July 18, 2018 and granted a 30 percent rating from that date.,The Veteran's right knee disability was remanded for additional development as there were outstanding non-VA treatment records not in the file.,The Veteran's Meniere's disease with chronic suppurative otitis media was remanded to determine if tinnitus should be considered a symptom and whether it warranted a separate rating prior to August 7, 2020.,The Veteran's alopecia with scarring was remanded for an addendum opinion on whether the condition is more appropriately characterized as discoid lupus erythematous.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD is rated at 20 percent, effective January 26, 2019. The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal concerning the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral pes planus with metatarsalgia, a compensable rating for left foot hammer toes, and whether new and relevant evidence has been received to reopen previously denied claims for service connection. The remaining issues were dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for plantar psoriasis and TDIU due to issues with the pre-decisional duty to assist error. A new VA examination is needed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left foot disability, which may be related to service. A VA examination is needed to determine if the condition is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by service.