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

The Veteran's left third toe disorder is not service-connected as it did not have its onset during his period of honorable service and is not etiologically related to his period of honorable service.,Bilateral pes planus was aggravated by service, but the extent of aggravation beyond its natural progression is unclear due to conflicting opinions from VA examiners.

The Veteran's hepatitis C, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right foot disability, and back disability claims are remanded due to incomplete medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, left and right ankle conditions, bilateral pes planus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted.,The Veteran's claim for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for his left and right knee conditions has been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for right foot, left foot, toe disabilities, and an undiagnosed illness due to Gulf War service. The Veteran's cardiovascular disability was not granted as the evidence did not show a link with his period of service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, but the issue of service connection for bilateral hallux valgus is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is granted as it is secondary to a fall during active duty. The claims for left ear hearing loss, chronic headaches, chronic sinusitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), dysentery, left elbow disability, middle back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability are denied.

The Veteran's preexisting right knee and left foot conditions were aggravated during service, leading to the grant of service connection for these disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus is secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine, and thus grants this claim.

Service connection is granted for a headache disability, back disability (DJD, DDD, osteoarthritis/osteoarthrosis, and IVDS), and bilateral foot disability.,The Veteran's headaches began during service in Vietnam. The Board found the evidence at least in relative equipoise that the current diagnosis of chronic headaches had its onset during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation during the period from February 1, 2007 to February 22, 2010. Therefore, a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases due to conflicting findings and insufficient examination reports. The Veteran's bilateral foot conditions, including pes planus and hammer toe, are unclear from the records provided. His left knee condition is also unclear but may be related to service.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to a separate compensable rating for right and left lower extremity neurologic impairment as secondary to service-connected thoracolumbar strain, and entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disability due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder was denied, and his request for an increased rating for right foot disability was granted with a 20% disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee joint osteoarthritis and flat feet due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pes planus was aggravated by service. The Veteran must be provided with a new addendum VA medical opinion considering his reports of foot pain and physical activity during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the submission of new VA treatment records, and will be reviewed by the AOJ.

The Veteran's left shoulder, right shoulder, back, knee, ankle, and foot conditions are all found to be etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his depressive disorder and left ankle strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since April 1, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional military personnel records, and his claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot and hip disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The Board finds that an addendum opinion is needed regarding the Veteran's bilateral foot disability, specifically addressing whether he had undiagnosed plantar fasciitis in service and if his current hip condition is more likely due to use and age rather than abnormal change in gait.