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

The Board has granted service connection for a right foot disability, including arthritis and heel spurs, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began in service and are related to his military activities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection for bilateral tinnitus and a bilateral foot disorder, including flat feet. The Veteran's tinnitus is being considered secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, while the issue of a bilateral foot disorder remains under review.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus and right knee disability, as these conditions may have preexisted service or been aggravated by training. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current disabilities are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral groin condition, right hip disorder, bilateral pes planus and left foot hallux valgus, as well as a neck disorder. The evidence did not support current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right foot disability, specifically his in-service pain and physical exertion.

Service connection for tonsillar hypertrophy is granted as the disability increased in severity during service.,Service connection for pes planus is denied as there was no increase in severity during service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to November 1, 2021, and a rating in excess of 20 percent thereafter, for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome; service connection for shoulder disability; and service connection for foot disability (claimed as trench foot). The Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to an increased rating for bilateral pes planus and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran will need a more current examination, as well as any relevant SSA records.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, foot disability (to include pes planus), and allergic rhinitis with bronchitis. The claim for service connection for skin disability (dermatitis of the hands) is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the rating for a left knee chronic strain was improper and void ab initio. The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for right knee, right foot plantar fasciitis, and service connection for chronic vomiting syndrome with weight loss and strength are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding no evidence of a chronic condition in service or post-service treatment.,For his bilateral foot disorder, the Board found that pes planus was noted at enlistment but not aggravated by service. Hallux valgus is considered multifactorial with possible genetic influences.

The Veteran's low back disability was granted a rating of 20 percent prior to January 26, 2017. The Veteran's bilateral foot disability was denied any increase in rating prior to November 1, 2019.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional records and a determination of employment feasibility. The Board will refer the issue to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration on an extra-schedular basis.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis was denied. The claim for restoration of the 20 percent rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS effective January 1, 2016 was granted. The claim for an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS was denied.

The Board has ordered remand for the Veteran to provide service treatment records and obtain a medical opinion regarding his bilateral foot disabilities, including pes planus with arthritis and hammer toes. The examiner should consider the Veteran's statements about in-service foot pain and progression of symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple claims for various conditions, with some issues remanded for further review and others denied. The primary issue is the denial of a higher rating for tinnitus, which has been assigned the maximum schedular rating.

The Veteran's initial increased rating of 50 percent for tarsal tunnel syndrome, to include plantar fasciitis, is dismissed as the highest schedular evaluation has been granted. The claim for a compensable disability rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, finding insufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board acknowledged some physical limitations but did not find them severe enough to preclude employment.