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

The Board has remanded the claim for a new VA medical opinion to clarify if the Veteran's preexisting foot conditions were aggravated by service and whether his left first MTP joint osteoarthritis was caused by service. The claims file needs to be updated with all available service treatment records, including those from April 1973 to April 1974.

The appeals for service connection and evaluation of the Veteran's disabilities have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran is granted TDIU effective July 2, 2012. Prior to that date, his service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the appeals for scheduling of VA examinations to assess the current severity and functional impairment of various service-connected disabilities, including right knee osteoarthritis, left knee strain, bilateral pes planus with calcaneal spurs, right foot hallux valgus, left foot hallux valgus, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, bladder dysfunction, and bowel dysfunction.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability but has remanded the issue of service connection for a right foot disability, finding that additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of complete medical records from his active duty and National Guard service. The right-ear hearing loss claim is also remanded for correction of an inadequate VA examination report.

The Veteran's initial claim for higher ratings for migraine headaches and bilateral pes planus was denied. The appeal for a higher rating for the migraine headaches from April 19, 2022 onwards is granted.,The reduction of the disability rating for the service-connected bilateral pes planus disability from 50 percent to 30 percent was not proper; the 50 percent disability rating is restored.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not receive notice of scheduled VA examinations and finds it highly likely he did not receive them. The claims are being remanded to attempt to obtain updated contact information for the Veteran so he can be notified of these actions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied prior to October 21, 2021 due to the presence of other service-connected disabilities that allowed him to maintain substantial employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, right knee, and right foot disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is advised to provide authorization for VA to obtain private treatment records from his providers.

The Board denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder and denied increased ratings for right knee tendonitis, obstructive sleep apnea, right foot pes planus, right upper lip scar, and upper back sebaceous cyst.,A separate compensable rating was granted for painful scar post-upper back sebaceous cyst excision.

Service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus has been granted.,The issues of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and a bilateral ankle disorder are remanded for VA examinations.

The Veteran's right and left tibia disabilities, as well as their associated knee and ankle instability issues, have been granted increased ratings. The right and left knee instability issues received initial 10 percent ratings prior to April 22, 2022, and a 20 percent rating from that date onwards. Right and left ankle instability issues also received initial 10 percent ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's current back disability, right hip disability, bilateral foot disabilities, and migraines. The issues of service connection for a right hip disability, bilateral foot disabilities, and migraines are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The Board finds the Veteran's claims for other disabilities are not supported by competent and credible evidence, necessitating further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous instructions and needs further examination to determine if the Veteran's right foot disability is related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted an initial 10 percent rating for service-connected bilateral pes planus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are more than mild and not relieved by orthotics.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since March 25, 2015.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, and the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. High cholesterol and psychiatric disorders are denied. The remaining claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.