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

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including obtaining VA and non-VA treatment records related to the Veteran's right shoulder, right foot, right wrist, right knee, back, and hearing loss disorders.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral pes planus and left eye disability due to a lack of an examination, and the need for further development and adjudication.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disability is being remanded due to concerns about the competency of the VA examiner who provided an opinion on the matter.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right foot plantar fasciitis and hallux valgus were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's initial claim for major depressive disorder was granted, and he is now receiving a 70% disability rating. The Board has also remanded his claims for foot disability (gout), low back disability, and bilateral hip disabilities.,Further development is needed to determine the current status of these conditions and their relationship to service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right foot disability. The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred during service due to in-service noise exposure. However, there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or continuity of symptoms related to the claimed hearing loss and right foot disabilities that can be traced back to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified anxiety disorder, is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in approximate balance and concludes that his current psychiatric disability had an onset during active service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, hearing loss, back disability, and knee disabilities rendered him unemployable prior to December 17, 2020. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing right and left foot pes planus were aggravated during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral foot disability, including pes planus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea, acne (secondary to PFB), migraines, left foot disability, and left shoulder disability have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder, increased rating for right knee disability, separate rating for right knee limitation extension, and left foot disability have been denied. The Board found no current evidence of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease is considered secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.,The Veteran's right foot Charcot foot disability is also considered secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for pes planus with hallux valgus, degenerative joint disease of the right ankle, and degenerative joint disease of the left ankle were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a compensable rating for pes planus with hallux valgus or a rating in excess of 10 percent for either ankle condition.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral pes planus preexisted service and whether it was aggravated by service. The examiner will also provide an opinion on the nature of the Veteran's current foot disability.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a higher rating of 50% from April 27, 2019 to October 21, 2019. Other conditions have been granted service connection with effective dates ranging from January 11, 2012 to October 21, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been readjudicated due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The claims for pes planus, hearing loss, back impairment, left ankle impairment, right ankle impairment, tinnitus, and left finger impairment are all being remanded for further development.,New and relevant evidence has been submitted in support of the Veteran's service connection claims for pes planus, hearing loss, back impairment, left ankle impairment, right ankle impairment, tinnitus, and left finger impairment. These claims will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found no relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment. Therefore, a higher rating of 20 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was aggravated during service, and his left foot degenerative arthritis and hallux valgus are related to this aggravation. Service connection is granted for these conditions.