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

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral feet onychomycosis, bilateral plantar fasciitis with heel spur and tenosynovitis, right foot hammer toes, and left foot hammer toes due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The appellant is required to undergo a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has ordered a remand to ensure that the VA examiner's opinions are adequate and consider the Veteran's lay reports of symptoms during service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection of various knee, foot, ankle, and hand disabilities should be remanded due to a lack of supporting medical evidence.

The appeal seeking an increased rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy is dismissed.,Service connection for a bilateral foot disability is denied.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for the cervical spine disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinion is inadequate and remands the case for an addendum opinion to address the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral foot disability, including pes planus and enthesophytes.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus and arthritis, as well as the separate rating for right foot hallux valgus, is denied. The TDIU claim is also denied due to lack of response from the Veteran.

The Board has found the VA examinations inadequate and remanded for further development regarding service connection for hypertension and a bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected as there was no evidence of a current disability during the appeal period.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted, with the opinion that it is less likely than not related to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran reported experiencing constant ringing in his ears since 1990 and provided credible statements supporting this claim.,The pre-existing bilateral pes planus was aggravated by service as evidenced by worsening symptoms during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral plantar fasciitis due to insufficient evidence. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right foot, left foot, and right knee disabilities are related to his service. However, further examination is needed to determine if these conditions have been diagnosed or if they are due to his service.,The Veteran's OSA claim will be remanded as a VA medical opinion is necessary to address whether it is secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has denied service connection for a fatigue disability and remanded the issue of whether the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was aggravated by military service.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee and left foot disorders, as well as initial compensable ratings for allergic rhinitis, right foot plantar fasciitis, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, sinusitis, left ankle arthritis, and rosacea are remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bladder cancer, an initial compensable rating for status post right upper lobectomy, service connection for COPD, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for coronary artery disease. The decision also includes a matter regarding entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus prior to March 11, 2016, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter, including the issue of TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine have been granted. The remaining issues, including right knee disability, left foot disability, and tingling skin of the left knee and leg, are being remanded for further evaluation.,New evidence has reopened the Veteran's claims for tinnitus and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, leading to their grant. However, additional evaluations are needed to determine service connection for other conditions.

The Veteran's request to reopen service connection for back problems was denied as the new evidence did not relate to the basis of the prior denial.,Service connection for a neck disability was also denied because the new evidence did not relate to the basis of the prior denial.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70% rating, effective August 21, 2014. The bilateral pes planus service connection is also granted with an effective date of August 21, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran died from COPD, which is not related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, which may be related to his service-connected plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The presumption of soundness does not apply to pes planus, but there is evidence suggesting an increase in severity during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions have been remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation.,No current diagnoses or functional impairments were found for some of the claimed conditions, leading to denial of service connection.