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

The Board denied service connection for left foot pes planus and right foot pes planus, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 20, 2014 for the award of service connection for bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus, metatarsalgia, degenerative arthritis, and bilateral callosities is denied.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a respiratory disorder (claimed as sleep apnea and COPD).,The Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus, metatarsalgia, degenerative arthritis, and bilateral callosities, and for a rating for right knee joint osteoarthritis are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral pes planus beginning June 21, 2002, has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right foot plantar fasciitis with pes planus.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional VA examinations and opinions to determine if any diagnosed right knee or right foot disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is denied as the current 10 percent evaluation is the maximum available.,Service connection for high cholesterol is denied because it does not meet VA compensation criteria.,A TDIU award is granted based on service-connected disabilities preventing substantial gainful employment.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for schizophrenia remains remanded due to potential aggravation of pre-existing conditions.,Claims for higher ratings for right rotator cuff tendonitis, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral knee osteoarthritis are also remanded.,Claims for higher ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis, and metatarsalgia remain remanded.,Claims for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), allergic rhinitis, internal hemorrhoids, right colon adenoma, umbilical hernia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and insomnia are all remanded.,The Veteran's claim to reopen a previously denied service connection for a right colon adenoma is also remanded.,Service connection claims for an umbilical hernia secondary to the right colon adenoma and diabetes mellitus remain remanded.,Claims for service connection for heart disability, including hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and insomnia are all remanded.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral varicose veins, bilateral feet disability or pes planus, upper back disability, lower back disability, and left knee disability. The claims for service connection in these areas are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and medical guidance due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right foot and low back disabilities are related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus and earlier effective date for PTSD have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus did not worsen during service, and thus could not be granted on a theory of direct service connection. For PTSD, the Board determined that the earliest effective date was September 28, 2018, when the claim for an increased evaluation was received.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinions and scheduling conflicts, requiring further examination and development of the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding that there was no evidence of a diagnosis during service and insufficient lay testimony to establish an in-service injury.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, bilateral foot disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, left little toe disability, lumbar spine disability, and allergic rhinitis. The evidence supports a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and inadequate medical evidence regarding whether the appellant's diagnosed bilateral foot disability was incurred or aggravated during her ACDUTRA service from February 1983 to April 1983. The VA must obtain the appellant's complete service records and provide an addendum opinion to address these issues.

The Veteran's representative filed a motion to withdraw the appeal for multiple service connection claims, including asthma, flat feet, impingement syndrome in left ankle (claimed as ankle pain), left injured knee and chronic pain, migraines, right ankle pain, and right injured knee and chronic pain. The Board dismissed these appeals due to the withdrawal.

The Veteran's migraines are related to her service-connected PTSD, and the Board granted service connection for this condition. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for left hip trochanteric pain syndrome and right hip trochanteric pain syndrome as secondary to pes planus.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability.,Tinnitus has been granted service connection, with the Board resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.,For tinea versicolor and pseudofolliculitis barbae, a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted due to lack of evidence showing more than 20% body or exposed area affected.,The Veteran's low back disorder, left lower extremity sciatica, right lower extremity sciatica, erectile dysfunction, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and right carpal tunnel syndrome are all remanded for further development as VA examinations may be necessary to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.,Chronic sinusitis and headaches have been remanded due to lack of evidence showing current disability or in-service event.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because his combined rating for service-connected conditions (PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, plantar wart, and hypertension) is less than the required 70% to warrant a TDIU on schedular basis. The Board found that he could still secure and follow substantially gainful employment despite his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's pes planus of the left foot is related to service. The examiner needs to provide a more definitive opinion based on the assembled data and generally accepted medical principles.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral plantar fasciitis and knee conditions, have caused her to be unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since July 19, 2018.

The Board has remanded four issues related to secondary service connection for back, left knee, bilateral ankle, and bilateral foot disabilities due to the service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further examination and opinion.