Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus and sleep apnea, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since November 1, 2016.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes planus disability is rated at 30 percent from October 7, 2013 to March 6, 2018 and from May 1, 2018 to March 13, 2020. From March 14, 2020, the Veteran's disability is rated at 50 percent. The Veteran also received a grant of TDIU effective October 2, 2020.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions provided do not comply with the remand instructions and thus, the claims for service connection are being remanded again.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to failure to schedule VA examinations. The Veteran was scheduled for VA examinations in March 2022, but refused them and they were cancelled. The Veteran requested rescheduling, which was granted, but he did not attend the rescheduled examinations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral foot disability is not service-connected, and has ordered a VA examination to determine if the condition existed prior to his military service or is otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate prior VA examinations and opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for right shoulder degenerative joint disease and bilateral pes planus with plantar fibroma, both of which he contends are related to his active-duty service or a service-connected lumbar DDD.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain additional medical records, including from the West Virginia National Guard. The Veteran's GERD and right foot disability are being reviewed again due to inadequate previous opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for lumbar spine and bilateral foot disabilities has been denied. The issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to October 10, 2017, for service-connected lumbar spine disability remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right foot disabilities due to insufficient evidence or further development being necessary.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for new medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's foot disorders, including bilateral pes planus, metatarsalgia, hammertoes, hallux valgus, and acquired pes cavus. The issues include entitlement to a compensable rating for right foot plantar fasciitis with right calcaneus arthralgia and service connection for a bilateral foot disorder secondary to the aforementioned conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to comply with prior remand directives regarding obtaining private medical records and VA treatment records, as well as attempting to obtain the Veteran's service personnel records.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the Veteran's need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, as it has been over five years since the last examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis with impingement, bilateral pes planus, metatarsophalangeal joint osteoarthritis was denied due to lack of a nexus to military service. The Board found no new and material evidence since the final December 1997 rating decision that could substantiate her claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for TDIU and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 due to procedural issues, including a lack of opt-in into the AMA system and requests for additional time to submit evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a left foot disability, left knee disability, low back disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including bilateral foot, wrist, ankle, knee, groin injury with residual erectile dysfunction, TBI with headaches, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and bilateral hearing loss disability, have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, left knee disability, and bilateral plantar fasciitis. The evidence does not support a finding of aggravation beyond normal progression during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and the Veteran's lay assertions regarding his right foot condition during service.

The Board has granted service connection for an unspecified depressive disorder and denied service connection for left foot and right foot disorders, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's motion to revise or reverse rating decisions dated in November 1985 and September 1987 based on CUE, finding that the Veteran did not present a clear and specific argument for such claims.