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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for pes planus, bilateral hip condition, low back condition, and right knee condition due to their inextricably intertwined nature with his claim of service connection for pes planus. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left foot disorder, including plantar fasciitis and/or fibroma.

The Board has remanded the claims for right and left foot hallux valgus, as well as bilateral plantar fasciitis due to incomplete consideration of evidence added since the August 2021 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was noted at service entrance and is not presumed to have been aggravated during service. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of aggravation, thus denying service connection for this condition.,Service connection for the left knee disability is remanded due to the need for an opinion addressing direct service connection based on the conceded in-service injury.,The Veteran's skin condition (likely Pseudofolliculitis Barbae and hyperpigmented scars) was not related to active service, as there were no in-service or post-service diagnoses of this condition. The remand is for an opinion addressing whether it is at least as likely as not that the condition had its onset in service.,Service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder (likely depressive disorder) is remanded due to the need for an opinion addressing direct service connection based on the Veteran's reports of in-service left knee injury and/or incident involving a gas chamber.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, bilateral pes planus, heart condition (mild aortic insufficiency), frostbite in all fingers and toes, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, viral gastroenteritis, acquired psychiatric disorder, and sleep disorder.,The evidence did not support finding that these conditions began during service or were related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral flat feet, back disability, jaw disability, bilateral hearing loss, and nerve disability. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded due to additional evidence being requested.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been granted for bilateral pes planus with plantar wart/callosities residuals and left ankle condition. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral leg condition, left hip condition, and bilateral foot condition (other than pes planus) are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral foot disability and lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. Service connection was denied for psychiatric disability (PTSD, anxiety, and depression).

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability are currently rated as noncompensable. The cervical spine, bilateral hip, shoulder, hand, foot, lumbar spine, and left knee disabilities have not been service connected.,The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current cervical spine, bilateral hip, shoulder, hand, foot, lumbar spine, and left knee disabilities are related to his INACDUTRA or aggravated by a preexisting right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various joint disabilities associated with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome have been denied. The RO has granted additional service connection and assigned new ratings, but the Veteran is not entitled to higher ratings under current regulations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left-hand disability, right-hand disability, left ankle disability, left knee disability, and left foot disability due to inadequate VA examinations and missing non-VA medical records. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left foot disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypothyroidism, neck disability, low back disability, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and bilateral plantar fasciitis have all been granted.,Service connection has been established for these conditions based on their direct relationship to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot and left foot disabilities, finding that her symptoms are due to her already service-connected radiculopathy of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at 30 percent prior to March 24, 2021 and in excess of 30 percent from that date.,The Veteran's hypertension was not rated higher than 10 percent prior to March 24, 2021. From March 24, 2021 onwards, the rating is denied as there are no episodes meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate opinions regarding causation and aggravation of the Veteran's low back disability and right foot disability. The VA examiners did not specifically address the Veteran's gait abnormalities, which are relevant to these issues.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including TBI, respiratory condition, skin condition, back condition, bilateral knee and ankle conditions, and pes planus. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the failure to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC) in the initial decision, and the appellant's appeal is still pending in the legacy system.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding his cervical spine disability, right and left ankle disabilities, and foot disabilities. The issues of entitlement to service connection for these conditions are now before the Board.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is granted as service-connected. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for impairment of the seventh cranial is remanded. The rating for TBI residuals and entitlement to TDIU are also remanded.