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

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and examination regarding his service-connected foot disabilities, including a new rating for bilateral metatarsalgia. The issues of earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA are also remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. Other disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination findings and needs a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left plantar fasciitis is related to his service-connected right foot condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service and granted entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, a neck disability (previously claimed as upper back disability), and other conditions. The claims are remanded for further development including VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to new evidence added since the last decision. The Veteran will need a VA examination for his bilateral plantar fasciitis and an addendum opinion regarding his right ankle condition.

The Board has found that remand is necessary to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral foot disabilities, including plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, tibial tendon dysfunction, and possible calcaneal bone spurs.

The Board has found that a remand is necessary to obtain VA examinations and opinions for the Veteran's claims of right foot disability and abdominal hernia, as well as to clarify the current disabilities element of these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, continuity of symptomatology is not established, and are not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease. Therefore, service connection for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral leg disability, bilateral foot disability, sinus disability (to include sinus headaches), and hypertension has been denied.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for various conditions as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic nephropathy, PTSD, diabetes mellitus with retinopathy, cervical sprain, tinnitus, right and left knee degenerative joint disease, pes planus, and left eardrum surgery residuals, preclude him from engaging in gainful employment consistent with his education and experience. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined rating of 90 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD and service connection for bilateral pes planus and right foot hallux valgus is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has decided that further development is needed for the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disability, including pes planus with hallux valgus and degenerative joint disease of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. The remand includes obtaining an updated VA opinion to determine if the pre-existing pes planus increased in severity during service and whether such increase was clearly and unmistakably due to natural progression rather than service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, low back disorder, right ankle degenerative arthritis, right shoulder degenerative arthritis (status post reverse total shoulder arthroplasty), left shoulder degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis. The rating assigned is 60 percent.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent prior to March 25, 2022 and denied for a higher rating. A TDIU is granted.,Service connection for left foot disability, right foot disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability is remanded.

The Veteran's SMC claim for aid and attendance or housebound status was denied as his service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for such benefits.

The Veteran's appeals for higher staged initial ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis and thoracolumbar spine spondylosis with spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination reports and a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is required.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinions and lack of compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's current foot conditions are being reviewed for a possible connection to his service.

The Veteran's service-connected pes planus with plantar fasciitis prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 26, 2008. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective December 18, 2007.