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

The Board has determined that the current VA examination opinions are not adequate and requires further clarification of the Veteran's right foot disorder, including its pre-service existence and any aggravation during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of major depressive disorder and has remanded his claims regarding right knee, left knee, right hip, and bilateral foot disabilities due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development, including a lack of VA examination regarding the Veteran's ability to work prior to his incarceration in February 2013. The Veteran is service-connected for various disabilities and meets the schedular threshold for TDIU eligibility prior to February 2013. However, the Board found conflicting evidence on whether he could secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims can be adjudicated due to outstanding VA treatment records and potential TERA exposure. The claims for service connection are being remanded for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective date have been remanded due to the complexity of the medical issues involved.

Service connection is granted for PTSD. Service connection for a left foot disability and request to reopen service connection for bilateral eye disability are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral flat foot (pes planus) is granted as service-connected.,Right and left leg shin splints are not found to be related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including left ankle, foot, wrist, shoulder, low back, and right knee injuries. The VA examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a lack of VA examinations and potential exposure to toxic substances during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is granted a 10% rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied for other conditions.,Bilateral hearing loss and bilateral plantar fasciitis are not service connected.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right hand condition, tinnitus, headaches as secondary to head/nose injury, lower back condition, and cervical spine disability due to an error in docketing under the AMA system.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the ratings and service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, bowel incontinence, left foot disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and SMC due to loss of use of his feet, as these matters are inextricably intertwined with his claims for service connection for his back and bilateral nerve and foot disabilities.

The appeal seeking service connection for bilateral pes planus is dismissed.,New and material evidence having been received, the claim for service connection for PTSD is reopened.,New and material evidence having been received, the claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is reopened. Entitlement to service connection for PTSD is granted.,Entitlement to service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is granted.,From July 19, 2018, to July 16, 2020, entitlement to a separate rating of 20 percent for right knee instability is granted.,For the entire period on appeal, entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee limitation of flexion is denied.,Beginning May 18, 2022, entitlement to a separate rating of 10 percent, but no higher, for right knee limitation of extension is granted.,For the entire period on appeal, entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases due to missing service treatment records from May 1986 to July 1990 at Fort Leonard Wood and while assigned to F Co 4th Spt Bn Germany. The VA will attempt to locate these records.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims for increased ratings and service connection can be adjudicated on the merits. The Veteran's representative requested information about the qualifications of the VA examiners who provided the May 2023 examination reports, June 2023 addendum opinions, and the internal medicine physician's opinion with respect to hypertension.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed. The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's disabilities, including right hip disability, left hip disability, PTSD, radiculopathy of the upper extremities, rotator cuff tendonitis strain of the shoulder, bilateral feet disabilities, neck disability, back disability, sciatica of the lower extremities, and wrist and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities have been reopened based on new evidence.,Service connection for these conditions is now granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was aggravated by his active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for pes planus and plantar fasciitis, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and spinal stenosis, and radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities.