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

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate development. Specifically, the Board finds that another VA examination and opinion is required for his anemia claim, neck disability claim, cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity claim, cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity claim, right foot pes planus claim, and left foot pes planus claim.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher evaluation for service-connected porokeratosis with right foot corns is granted, but only up to 30 percent. The appeal for TDIU prior to October 4, 2019, remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is presumed to have been incurred as a result of service in Southwest Asia.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted based on the presumption that it was caused by noise exposure during service, and the Veteran's testimony regarding hazardous noise exposure in service meets the first two required components of service connection.,The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim for bilateral plantar fasciitis as a result of service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and a bilateral foot disability have been denied.,Service connection was granted for a 20% disability rating for chronic back pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the spine, effective prior to February 1, 2019.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for left foot plantar fasciitis, cervical spine disability, and left knee patella tendonitis are being remanded due to the inadequacy of prior VA examination reports.,Specifically, the June 2016 and August 2019 VA examination reports for cervical spine disability were found to be inadequate for adjudication purposes.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was incurred during active service. The examiner is required to provide a medical opinion addressing whether it is clear and unmistakable that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus condition was not aggravated beyond the natural progress of the disorder by her active military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, back disability (to include degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine), left knee disability, right knee disability, and bilateral pes planus have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar strain and right foot and heel disorder, as well as his requests for increased ratings for left plantar fasciitis with heel spur, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient medical records and conflicting opinions regarding the onset of the Veteran's foot, back, and URI disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Lyme disease has been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if his current symptoms are related to his military service. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis also requires further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's right shoulder, low back, right knee, sleep apnea, and right foot disabilities are all granted as service-connected.,Effective April 7, 2014, a rating of 50 percent for headaches is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, bilateral pes planus, PTSD, and left thumb disability due to new and material evidence. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a disability manifested by fatigue, including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, for VA compensation purposes. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left foot disorders due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current foot conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his bilateral foot disabilities, precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right ankle disability and bilateral bunions are remanded for further evaluation. The left foot disability is also remanded, with the possibility of service connection based on secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a foot condition and a skin condition of the legs due to incomplete medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are currently diagnosed as plantar fasciitis and xerosis respectively.

The Board has dismissed the issue of whether withholding of retroactive VA compensation effective March 2008 to January 2012 was proper. The issues of service connection for a left eye disability, initial disability rating for lumbar spine disability in excess of 10 percent prior to November 29, 2010; and in excess of 20 percent thereafter, initial disability rating for left shoulder disability in excess of 20 percent, and initial disability rating for right foot disability in excess of 10 percent are all remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for an updated examination and consideration of regulatory changes that may affect his disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot, lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to lack of opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to parachute jumps in service.