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

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, right foot disability, hypertension, and an eye disability due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives. The AOJ is directed to verify the Veteran's periods of military service and obtain relevant medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his right foot disability and entitlement to TDIU due to issues with the examination reports, allegations of worsening disability, and the need for clarification on secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine disability, right and left knee disabilities, left foot disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and bilateral shoulder disabilities. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's right and left foot instability have been granted a rating of 30 percent each, effective May 2011.,Bilateral pes planus has been granted a maximum schedular rating of 30 percent prior to January 10, 2007, with no higher ratings thereafter.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right elbow condition, plantar fasciitis, and migraine headaches due to a lack of evidence supporting a causal relationship between these conditions and his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and right foot disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA examinations and medical opinions to assess the current severity of his service-connected knee disabilities and to determine if they are related to active duty service. The Veteran also needs to be examined for his claimed left index finger and right foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claim for bilateral pes planus due to conflicting medical evidence and a need for an addendum opinion.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability as moot due to the grant of service connection for bilateral pes planus, hallus rigidus, with degenerative arthritis.

The Board has determined that new evidence received since the February 2014 rating decision is sufficient to readjudicate claims for service connection for bruxism, lumbar strain, and headaches. However, no new relevant evidence was found for the deviated septum, pes planus, or bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss rating was restored to 20 percent effective October 22, 2019.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left ankle, left foot, and right foot disabilities. The issues include higher extraschedular ratings, a separate compensable rating, and TDIU prior to April 4, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected foot disabilities alone do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus his claim for TDIU based solely on these conditions is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the examination and medical opinion provided for service connection of bilateral plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's claim is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and ratings are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence or requests for substitution.

The Veteran's right foot disability is rated at a 10% since April 20, 2022.,A TDIU has been granted.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding private and VA treatment records related to the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, right foot calcaneal spur, cervical strain with degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and anxiety; a bilateral knee disability, including DJD; and a bilateral foot disability, including pes planus are being remanded for further development.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed to correct a duty to assist error and remands the cases for further action.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed right foot disability, as there was not sufficient indication in the service treatment records regarding whether her condition is bilateral or present in only one foot.