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

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the duration of the period on appeal, from March 1, 2020, is granted. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to obtain a retrospective functional impairment opinion addressing the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to February 17, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral foot disabilities, specifically pes planus and plantar fasciitis. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, low back, and neck conditions. The claim for bilateral plantar fasciitis is remanded.,There was no persuasive evidence to support a relationship between the Veteran's current knee or back conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, headaches, and left knee disability are granted. The Veteran is assigned a noncompensable rating for her right knee stress fracture.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis was dismissed because the claims processing error led to an erroneous certification of the appeal to the Board.

The Board has remanded the cases due to issues with the competency of the VA examiners who initially determined service connection for the Veteran's knee and foot disabilities. The Veteran and his attorney requested their qualifications, and further medical or factual development is needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral flat feet, finding that her pes planus was not aggravated during active duty beyond its natural progression.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and left foot calcaneal spur, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete medical records and insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of her claimed disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claims for left ankle, right knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities need to be remanded due to a lack of certain medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus with bilateral hallux valgus and remanded the issue of service connection for a headache disorder.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at the maximum allowable under VA guidelines, and he is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that his preexisting condition did not increase in severity beyond its natural progression during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral pes planus and right knee osteoarthritis (secondary to left knee degenerative arthritis) is reopened, but the Board did not make a final determination on these claims.

The Board has granted a higher 10 percent disability rating for bilateral pes planus from January 29, 2018 to April 3, 2023. The Veteran's symptoms and functional limitations have approximated the criteria for a moderate bilateral foot disability with pain on use and manipulation of the feet.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal should be re-docketed under the Legacy system and her April 2019 VA Form 10182 is accepted as a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) for the issues on appeal. The issues will not be returned to the Board unless she perfects an appeal by filing a timely VA Form 9.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, bilateral pes planus, bilateral lower extremities varicose veins, and a sleep disability (claimed as obstructive sleep apnea) to include as secondary to PTSD are all granted. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus was granted. Service connection for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis were denied, but right ear hearing loss was not addressed as a separate issue.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) throughout the appeal period, finding that his service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following gainful employment.