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

The Veteran's claims for muscle and joint pain in his legs, including pes planus, due to Gulf War environmental hazards or as a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI), including fibromyalgia, have been denied.

The Veteran's left foot plantar fasciitis was granted service connection, while his left foot pes planus claim for aggravation during service was denied.

The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis is rated at 20 percent prior to July 18, 2017. The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to September 29, 2015 due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right leg disability, and left foot disability. The appeal for service connection of schizophrenia is granted.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her claims for service connection for insomnia, bilateral pes planus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including schizophrenia and anxiety), and thoracolumbar spine condition is granted.,An earlier effective date of May 2, 2016, but no earlier, for a disability rating of 20 percent for neuropathy of the left hand fourth webspace is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for an additional VA examination to determine the current severity and likely etiology of the Veteran's right and left foot disabilities, including pes planus and plantar fasciitis. The examiner should consider the Veteran's statements regarding onset of bilateral foot pain during service, as well as in-service treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left Achilles tendonitis, bilateral plantar fasciitis, sinus disability, and OSA have been granted. The claim for a compensable rating for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a left foot disability was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for atrial fibrillation, secondary to service-connected major depressive disorder with substance abuse disorder, is granted. The rating for left knee instability prior to May 15, 2018, and thereafter, as well as the rating for degenerative joint disease in the left knee, are denied.

The Board has determined that the remand was not adequately addressed and requires further examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to insufficient evidence, including a need for VA examinations and additional medical development.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent rating, service connection for a left knee disability secondary to the left foot disability, service connection for a left ankle disability secondary to the left foot disability, and service connection for pes planus and a nerve condition of the left foot.

All service connection claims for various conditions are dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is dismissed. The claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disability, to include plantar fasciitis and pes planus, has been reopened based on new evidence. A 20% disability rating for spondylosis, residuals of lumbar strain with arthritis, effective from December 9, 2013, is granted.

The Veteran's left foot pes planus was granted a higher rating, but his secondary service connection for the left shoulder condition to his right shoulder condition is granted. The claim for an increased rating for left foot pes planus prior to May 29, 2015, and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain a supplemental VA opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left foot disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for updated VA examinations to determine the severity of the Veteran's sinusitis and left foot warts, as he failed to report for previous examinations.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, left knee disability, lower back disability, neck disability, acquired skin disorder (PFB, eczema, lichen simplex), and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depressive disorder). The claim for bilateral pes planus is granted due to aggravation of a pre-existing condition during active service. The other claims are remanded as new evidence has been received but the Board did not find it sufficient to grant service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral foot disorders due to insufficient information regarding whether other conditions are related to service-connected plantar and dorsal callosities.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for plantar fasciitis is denied as the highest schedular rating has been assigned. The Board finds that his symptoms are fully addressed by the current rating criteria and do not warrant an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board has determined that there have been substantial compliance issues with the previous remand directives and thus, the appeal is being returned to the RO for further action.