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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral ankle and foot disabilities due to lack of medical evidence linking her current conditions to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board granted a TDIU effective November 8, 2019.

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issues of service connection for chronic venous insufficiency (claimed as a 'bilateral leg condition') and a bilateral foot disability (claimed as 'bilateral foot problems'), both secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's low back disability, including IVDS, was rated at 10 percent prior to February 1, 2014, and at 0 percent thereafter. The rating was reduced to noncompensable effective February 1, 2014.,The Veteran's right knee strain was rated at 10 percent prior to February 1, 2014, and at 0 percent thereafter. The rating was reduced to noncompensable effective February 1, 2014.,The Veteran's neurological impairment of the left lower extremity was rated at 10 percent prior to February 1, 2014, and at 0 percent thereafter. The rating was reduced to noncompensable effective February 1, 2014.,The Veteran's neurological impairment of the right lower extremity was rated at 10 percent prior to February 1, 2014, and at 0 percent thereafter. The rating was reduced to noncompensable effective February 1, 2014.,The Veteran's neurogenic bladder disability was rated at 40 percent prior to February 1, 2014, and the reduction to noncompensable is denied.,The Veteran's plantar fasciitis was rated at 10 percent prior to February 1, 2014, and the reduction to noncompensable is denied.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for right and left foot strains are granted at 10 percent each prior to February 28, 2020. Ratings of 30 percent or higher for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for erectile dysfunction, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), fibromyalgia with joint pain and daily discomfort, and a foot disability to obtain additional medical opinions. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are believed to be related to his current conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability caused his obesity and subsequent sleep apnea. The lumbar spine and bilateral foot disabilities are denied as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and adjudication due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for pes planus, right leg disability, and right knee disability.

The Board denied requests for effective dates prior to November 30, 2009, for service connection and TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral flat feet, and right knee disability, have precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful occupation since September 17, 2019. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted for this period.

The Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as lumbar degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis, is now granted.,The Veteran's right foot disability (pes planus), left foot disability (pes planus), right ankle disability (chronic right ankle sprain), and right hand disability (carpal tunnel syndrome) are all now granted. The Veteran's COPD claim remains pending as it was remanded.

The Veteran's varicose veins are granted service connection, and he is awarded a 30 percent rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis from January 19, 2017, to January 27, 2019. The appeal regarding the increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis from January 28, 2019, remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an additional VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left foot disability, specifically addressing the prior diagnosis of bilateral metatarsalgia.

The Board has found pre-decisional duty to assist errors for the Veteran's lumbar spine, left foot, and left hand disabilities. The case is remanded to obtain additional records and provide a new medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, left knee disability, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The Board also remanded the issues regarding bilateral foot disability and left hip disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and therefore his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral sensory polyneuropathy is granted as service-connected, and the Board finds that it is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected back disability. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral ankle, foot, and tarsal tunnel syndrome are remanded.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an updated opinion regarding its etiology. The respiratory disability case is also being remanded for further addendum opinions.,The Board has determined that more development is needed in both cases, including obtaining additional medical records and providing new opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's left ankle disorder and respiratory condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for further diagnostic testing.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating and SMC based on loss of use of the left foot is remanded due to incomplete VA examination reports. The Board requires additional retrospective medical findings to determine if there is effective function remaining other than that which would be equally well served by an amputation with prosthetic.