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

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for back disability, gastrointestinal disability, night sweats or disability manifested by night sweats, allergic rhinitis, sinus disability, tinea cruris, tinea unguium, tinea pedis, bursitis (right shoulder), hyperhidrosis, fatigue or disability manifested by fatigue, and pes planus. The Board is therefore remanding these claims for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and bilateral foot disability due to incomplete service treatment records and insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran is required to provide additional personnel records, and a new examination and opinion are needed regarding the etiology of his current back condition and pes planus.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to November 9, 2016 for a compensable disability rating of 30% for his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis. The Board found that there was no evidence showing an increase in severity within one year before the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his military personnel records. The Board will consider all submitted evidence, including lay statements from the Veteran, in determining whether service connection is warranted for the claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed for the Veteran's hip, neck, left foot, and right foot disabilities due to incomplete or insufficient medical evidence.

The Veteran's employment ended in December 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities, including anxiety and migraine headaches. The AOJ needs to complete further development regarding the Veteran's employment history before deciding on the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot disabilities, as well as right and left hip disabilities, are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and evaluation.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia is also being remanded due to the need for additional examination and evaluation.

The Board has granted the petitions to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection for right foot, bilateral ankle, bilateral knee and cervical spine disabilities. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, including as secondary to his service-connected left foot osteoarthritis. The VA examiners found that the Veteran's pre-existing pes planus and plantar fasciitis did not worsen beyond its natural progression during service.

The Veteran's dermatitis claim is dismissed. The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for headaches, left foot plantar fasciitis, and right foot plantar fasciitis due to potential secondary service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, finding that his symptoms began during active service and are related to his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension has been granted an initial 10 percent rating.,For the period prior to February 20, 2020, the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis was granted a 10 percent rating.,Since February 20, 2020, the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis has been denied any increase in rating beyond the initial 10 percent assigned.,The claim for TDIU based on service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, great toe, foot, gastrointestinal, and prostate conditions due to a lack of evidence linking these disabilities to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right foot disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a present disability related to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, leading to a grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, a left knee disability, and a back disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and evaluations are necessary to determine the current severity of the Veteran's insomnia, bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, left knee disability, and bilateral foot disabilities. The claims for increased ratings and service connection will be remanded.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral pes planus was reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was reopened and granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the genitourinary disability issue during a hearing before the Board. The remaining issues of service connection are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot disabilities due to additional evidence being submitted, including medical records from private providers. The issues are related to whether these conditions are related to service.