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

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and the Board has requested additional medical opinions to address the conflicting evidence of record.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left foot disability, but has remanded his claim for service connection of his left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the need to obtain relevant records from SSA and conduct VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, left-hand disability, right-hand disability, left ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability due to incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain these records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding when the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis worsened to a level that would warrant a 50 percent evaluation prior to September 5, 2020. The case is now pending for further examination and determination.

The Veteran's left knee disability is found to be related to active service, and the claim for service connection for this condition is granted. The issues of secondary service connection for other conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's pes planus with hammertoes and bilateral hallux valgus are currently rated at 50 percent from July 14, 2021. The Veteran's hallux valgus is not service-connected or considered severe enough to warrant a separate compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and disability evaluations have been denied. Additional development is required to address the issues of right foot pes planus, left foot pes planus, right foot plantar fasciitis, left foot plantar fasciitis, sleep apnea, athlete's foot (ringworm), tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to procedural errors and the need for additional development, including toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) examinations.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed back, right knee, plantar fasciitis disabilities, as well as his sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus have been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right median motor neuropathy has also been granted.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence received after the appeal was certified to the Board in May 2020. The VA will now review this evidence and issue a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis, left foot degenerative joint disease, and associated hammertoes and mild hallux valgus are granted service connection. Service connection for Lyme disease is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for several disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral knee and foot disabilities, a vision disability, and a low back disability. The claims are being remanded to obtain information about the Veteran's periods of active duty, conduct VA examinations, and determine the current severity of his service-connected left inguinal hernia, torn right hamstring, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his bilateral pes planus, finding that the evidence did not show marked pronation or inward displacement and severe spasm of the Achilles' tendon on manipulation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable at any point during the period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the medical records regarding the Veteran's diabetes and neuropathy diagnoses, as well as a need for additional VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and pes planus, and has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB).

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is now rated at 40 percent effective January 3, 2022. Other ratings remain unchanged.

Service connection for a respiratory disability is granted under the PACT Act. Service connection for left elbow, insomnia (claimed as mental health disorder), and gastrointestinal disorders including posttraumatic stress disorder are denied. A temporary total evaluation due to right elbow surgery is granted.