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

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, including pes planus, bilateral ankle and knee disabilities, left shoulder disability, right hand scar, and bilateral hearing loss. The combined rating of these conditions exceeds the schedular requirement for a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy, secondary to service-connected PAD, on a causation basis.,The Board has also granted service connection for left foot pes planus with plantar fasciitis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that his current condition is related to his military service due to joint swelling and pain during service. The decision resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claimed low back, hand, hip, and foot disabilities are not service-connected due to lack of credible in-service injury history. The esophageal cancer and foot neuropathy claims have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board has remanded several issues, including those related to bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as some of the disability evaluations.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand requests.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain is currently rated at 20 percent, which approximates the criteria for limitation of motion to midway between side and shoulder. The left foot plantar fasciitis does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection has been granted for right ankle debridement and Haglund's excision with right Achilles tendinitis and ankle joint pain, but service connection for bronchitis is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist condition, left wrist condition, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and tibial neuropathy of the right knee and lower foot are being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for scar, status post desmoid removal is being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to January 23, 2017 is being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of spine disability has been denied. The Board found the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to May 21, 2018, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter. His claim for service connection for plantar fasciitis was remanded due to insufficient opinions from VA examiners.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 12, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the eligibility criteria for financial assistance in acquiring an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, left foot disability and right foot disability, bilateral knee strain (left and right), and right hip disability due to additional development being necessary.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the failure to obtain all outstanding VA treatment records and the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's lay statements and in-service treatment history. The claim for service connection for bilateral flat feet is now before the VA examiner for further review.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen her claims for service connection for low back pain, pes planus, and hammer toes. Service connection is now established for these conditions.,Secondary service connection was granted for a low back disability related to service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's left foot and ankle disabilities are found to be related to service, with the current evidence in equipoise.,Service connection is granted for a left foot disability (including osteoarthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint and degenerative changes affecting the left great toe) and a left ankle disability.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis was evaluated and found to warrant a 10 percent rating, but not higher. The Board determined that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of her symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete development of his service treatment records and failure to verify his in-service stressor. The VA is directed to obtain all relevant medical records, including those from Florence VA clinic, and to attempt to corroborate the Veteran's reported in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, degenerative arthritis, and calcaneal arthritis is denied as there was no evidence of worsening in the one-year prior look-back period.