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

The Veteran's claim for major depressive disorder is dismissed as the RO granted service connection for a persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress and an insomnia disorder.,The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is denied. The evidence does not show limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or more, which would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5260.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus is granted as the evidence supports that his tinnitus had its onset in service.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral plantar fasciitis (claimed as 'flat feet') is denied. The VA examiner found no clear and specific etiology of the condition, attributing it to a prolonged period without complaint after service.,The Veteran's claims for left shoulder condition, left knee condition, bilateral ankle condition, and left hip condition are all denied. No evidence supports their onset or relationship to service.,The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is remanded.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, right shoulder impingement syndrome, and right hip condition are all remanded.,The Veteran's claims for a hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are both remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a headache condition, left ankle condition, left heel spur, pes planus, and right heel spur were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various orthopedic disabilities, including lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral foot, right knee, left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities. The reasons include needing to clarify the Veteran's service in December 1995 and obtaining missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral pes planus was withdrawn. The appeals for a higher rating for right wrist and ankle sprains were denied, with the right ankle sprain being remanded due to insufficient evidence. Service connection for left ankle disorder and psychiatric conditions is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury and other conditions such as narcolepsy, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic sinusitis, tension headaches, right shoulder strain with shoulder impingement syndrome, left shoulder strain with shoulder impingement syndrome, lower back strain, cervical neck strain, bilateral plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, right 4th metacarpal fracture with scar, allergic rhinitis, shin splints of the left and right lower extremities, right eye strabismus, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment for the appeal period prior to August 13, 2019.

The appeal for service connection for a back disability has been dismissed as the claim was fully granted in an October 2022 rating decision. The appeals for service connection for lesion of the scalp, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, right elbow disability, and right foot disability are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has identified errors in the decision and has ordered remand for further development of evidence related to service connection claims.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral flat feet and remanded the issues of service connection for lower back condition, left arm painful scar under DC 7804, and left arm painful scar under DC 7805.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including total abdominal hysterectomy, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, bilateral plantar fasciitis, chronic depressive disorder, right and left ankle tendonitis, bilateral Morton's neuroma, hallux valgus right foot, and hallux valgus left foot, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the evidence of record.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle and right foot disabilities, finding that the Veteran's preexisting conditions were aggravated by his active duty service.,Service connection was also granted for left ankle and left foot disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle and right foot disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral foot disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronic conditions in service or within presumptive periods. The Board also found that any current disabilities were not related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased rating, service connection, and TDIU due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10% for limitation of extension.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for blood clots of the calves and lungs, bilateral pes planus, hypertension, and a bilateral eye disorder is reopened. The issues are remanded to provide VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right foot disorder, plantar fasciitis, and other related conditions are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing onset or relationship to service. The issues of respiratory, heart, sleep, and fatigue disorders have been remanded for further review.

The claims for service connection for right and left foot plantar fasciitis are granted. The claims for service connection for myofascial pain syndrome, claimed as full body weakness (including joint weakness), right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right elbow disability, left elbow disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, and bilateral hearing loss disability are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the other issues due to insufficient evidence or lack of VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted by the RO in September 2019, and this appeal is dismissed as the benefit sought has been granted.

The Board denied service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis and a left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support an in-service injury or a link to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has remanded them for further development due to outstanding VA and private treatment records.