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

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to missing service treatment records and insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, bilateral pes planus, and neck disorder due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the service-connected disabilities granted in his December 2015 rating decision. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to verify the dates of active-duty service prior to September 23, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical examination and evaluation of the Veteran's bilateral foot disability, which may be related to her service-connected right foot sprain.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of a low back disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and an effective date earlier than April 8, 2016, for left ankle disability. The appeal was also dismissed for seeking evaluations in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to December 29, 2016, and SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) based on housebound status prior to December 29, 2016.,The Board also dismissed the Veteran's appeal seeking a compensable evaluation for his service-connected scar of the right forearm.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and lack of sufficient medical evidence. The Veteran is required to undergo further examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hyperlipidemia, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the appellant's right and left foot disabilities, diagnosed as plantar fasciitis, were incurred during his active service. As such, the claim for service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the disability ratings related to right foot conditions, thus dismissing the appeals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, ankle, wrist, elbow, and knee disabilities as well as a neck disability due to additional evidence being added to the record.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis prior to May 2, 2016, and higher than 50 percent thereafter was denied. The maximum schedular rating of 50% is assigned from May 2, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus was aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's right and left foot disabilities are not service connected as they existed prior to service. The recurrent sinus disability and psychiatric disability were not shown during active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA clinical records and opinions regarding the Veteran's left ankle disability, bilateral foot disabilities, and whether service connection should be granted. The issues of secondary service connection are also pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for abrasion right leg is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of evidence of a disability during service and post-service. The Veteran has not been provided with an examination related to this issue.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on in-service exposure to noise and the Veteran's report of onset during service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left hand disability due to his withdrawal. The remaining issues have been remanded, including back, neck, right shoulder, right knee, right ankle, and left hip disabilities.

The Board has found the VA examinations and opinions inadequate, requiring a remand to obtain additional opinion for the VA to fulfill the duty to assist the Veteran in determining if his plantar fasciitis and ankle disabilities are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for plantar fasciitis and hammer toes, but granted service connection for OSA. The Veteran's current OSA is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.,Plantar fasciitis and hammer toes were not found to be related to service.

The Veteran was granted TDIU from May 28, 2015 to October 31, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities. After this period, the Board denied TDIU as of October 31, 2017.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal, and the Board has dismissed all pending issues.