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

The Board has found that the development conducted does not comply with prior remands and requires additional VA examinations to determine the current level of severity of the Veteran's service-connected left foot disability, tarsal tunnel syndrome, and scar.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was noted at entry into service and aggravated by active service, leading to current foot disorders. Service connection is granted for the Veteran's bilateral foot disorder.

The Veteran's back disability is granted with a noncompensable rating, and his bilateral plantar foot warts are granted an initial 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for lower back disability and bilateral foot disability due to inadequate VA opinions and outstanding private medical records.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disability and remanded the issues of service connection for left foot and right foot disabilities. The decision does not provide specific ratings or effective dates.

The Board has granted service connection for pes planus of the left foot and left ankle instability and pain as secondary to service-connected pes planus of the left foot, finding that there is at least an equipoise balance of evidence supporting these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for increased ratings of bilateral pes planus, right shoulder disability, and right knee disability are remanded due to the need for new examinations. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disability and a right hip disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions regarding the aggravation of the Veteran's disabilities by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran withdrew his claims seeking a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus and service connection for various hip, knee, and inguinal hernia conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis is remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI was granted an initial rating of 70 percent prior to September 4, 2020. A separate 10 percent rating for TBI residuals was also granted. The Veteran's PTSD with TBI is now rated as higher than 50 percent after September 4, 2020. Other issues related to service connection were remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot, right hip, bilateral shoulder, and cervical spine disabilities due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to incomplete medical records and inadequate musculoskeletal examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and other issues related to her hip and foot conditions will be reviewed again after obtaining all necessary medical records and conducting a new examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining new medical opinions on service connection claims and addressing a resource submitted by the Veteran regarding hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for gout and right foot plantar fasciitis, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Veteran's claims for bladder cancer and kidney cancer were also denied due to lack of evidence linking the cancers to his military service.,There is insufficient evidence to support a link between the Veteran's claimed conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability and left ankle disability were granted increased ratings, with the foot disability receiving a rating of 30 percent from March 23, 2016 to October 20, 2020.

TDIU was denied for the period from August 28, 2017 to December 1, 2020 due to the Veteran's ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.,TDIU was granted beginning on December 1, 2020 as the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to PTSD alone.,Special monthly compensation at the housebound rate was granted starting from December 1, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his bilateral pes planus with synovitis and calcaneal spurs is being remanded due to an invalid opt-in to the modernized appellate system.