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

The Veteran's service connection claims for a headache disorder, left knee disability, left ankle disability, and left foot disability have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.,There is also no evidence of arthritis in the left knee, ankle, or foot within one year after discharge from active duty.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to new evidence being added to the file. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with depression has been granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea syndrome, low back disability, and bilateral pes planus have also been reopened.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral foot disability, plantar fasciitis, right hip strain, left hip strain, right knee disability, left knee disability, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and cervical spine DDD, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since July 20, 2011. The Board has granted TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for hepatitis C prior to July 15, 2020 is dismissed. The case is remanded for a determination on the increased rating claim for plantar keratoderma.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, hypertension, and sinusitis. The Board has dismissed these claims as a result.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for restless leg syndrome, a left foot disability, and initial compensable disability ratings for right and left ankle disabilities have been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded the issues of initial compensable disability ratings for right and left ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and DMII were reopened due to new evidence. The right ankle disability appeal was dismissed as the benefit sought has been granted in full. Service connection for dyslipidemia was denied because it is not a qualifying disability for VA purposes. Other issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The issues include an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral foot disability, and neurological disorder (claimed as a headache).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, OCD, right ankle pain, left ankle pain, right foot plantar fasciitis, and left foot plantar fasciitis were denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression are currently rated as 0%.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral foot and left ankle disabilities, as they are related to his service-connected right ankle disability. The VA will need to provide additional medical opinions regarding whether these conditions preexisted service or were aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral foot disability, finding that his current disabilities did not manifest in service or for years thereafter and were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to April 23, 2013, is remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board finds sufficient evidence to substantiate the possibility of unemployability by reason of service-connected disabilities prior to that date.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, traumatic brain injury (TBI), bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis (claimed foot condition), left ankle nerve damage as due to bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, right ankle nerve damage as due to bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, and left knee nerve damage as due to bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which is a factor in developing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The VA examiner must consider and discuss each specific service-connected disability and the potential individual and collective impacts of toxic exposure risk activities on his disability.

The rating reduction from a 10 percent to 0 percent for bilateral plantar warts was improper and the 10 percent disability rating is restored.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and pes planus due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, PFB, and left foot disability were all granted service connection as they are related to events that occurred during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since August 9, 2017.

The Board has denied service connection for various knee, back, neck, shoulder, and foot disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.