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

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and bilateral pes planus are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding that the Veteran's injury during INACDUTRA is at least as likely as not related to his current condition.,Service connection was denied for inguinal hernia. The VA examiner found no nexus between the 1995 abdominal strain and the current hernia condition.

The Veteran's back disability, including headaches and fatigue, residuals of TBI, left ankle impingement syndrome, and left foot plantar fasciitis are granted initial ratings. However, the issues related to service connection for these conditions remain pending as they require additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis and allergic rhinitis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active service and have continued since.

The Board has found the VA medical opinions obtained in connection with the May 2022 Board remand are inadequate and requires further development to determine the etiology of any diagnosed lumbar spine, foot, and migraine disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, right knee disability, and back disability need further development due to missing service treatment records and a lack of VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right foot disability and psychiatric condition have been denied. The appeal to reopen the right foot disability claim was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to assess the severity of his knee and foot disorders, as well as to determine if they are related to service. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus has been rated as 10 percent disabling since August 20, 2018. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left and right shoulder disorders and left and right hip disorders due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and hypertension were not rated higher than the current noncompensable ratings, as there was no evidence of severe impairment or need for surgical treatment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his right shoulder disability, bilateral foot condition, sleep apnea, anxiety disorder, and left shoulder condition. The issues of rating higher than 20 percent for the right shoulder disability, service connection for a bilateral foot disability, service connection for sleep apnea, service connection for anxiety disorder as a separate condition from PTSD, and service connection for a left shoulder condition are all remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right foot disability, finding that his pre-existing condition was aggravated during his active duty service from December 1990 to May 1991.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right foot disability, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome due to incomplete compliance with previous remand instructions. The Veteran's service connection claim is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his right foot disability. His increased rating claims are also being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left foot disability, including plantar fasciitis, plantar fibromatosis, and degenerative arthritis, is at least as likely as not incurred in or related to his active service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD) claims are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to service.,The right hand, left hand, left foot, right knee, right hip, and right leg disability claims are denied due to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete documentation of the Veteran's periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the SMC loss of use claim.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and left posterior scar due to empyema drainage as they were granted service connection in a February 2021 rating decision. The appeal for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis is not currently service-connected, and the Board has referred this issue to the RO for further action. The current severity of her bilateral pes planus with left foot plantar fasciitis needs to be reassessed due to a lack of recent medical records and an outdated examination.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 13, 2017, for the grant of service connection for tension headaches is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for major depressive disorder is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bursitis is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tension headaches is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cervical strain is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left rotator cuff impingement syndrome is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 13, 2017, for the grant of a 20 percent rating for left rotator cuff impingement syndrome is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis with strain of the lumbar spine is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 13, 2017, for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 13, 2017, for the assignment of a separate compensable rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded.