Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2024

The Board has found that additional development is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's left foot conditions, including pes planus and osteoarthritis. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and bilateral pes planus do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disability is dismissed. The claims for increased ratings and service connection are pending, with some issues remanded.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability evaluation for bilateral plantar fasciitis prior to February 7, 2021. The Veteran's left shoulder strain and dry eye syndrome remain under review.,The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her left shoulder strain and dry eye syndrome are remanded due to inadequate examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder due to insufficient evidence showing that his current condition is related to his active military service.,The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disorder, PTSD, OSA, sinusitis, and rhinitis. These issues are pending further examination and/or medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence being added to the record. The AOJ needs to review this additional evidence and readjudicate the claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims for service connection can be adjudicated on the merits. The Veteran's lower back, right knee, bilateral foot, and gastrointestinal disabilities are all remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and right foot disabilities due to new evidence received after a previous decision. The case will be returned to the RO for review of this additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding medical records and potential TERA exposure. The Veteran is also seeking increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which require additional examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral foot disability and whether his service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which may have contributed to his current condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left foot plantar fasciitis and heel spur syndrome due to outstanding private treatment records and a need for updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's headache, right foot, and left foot disabilities are found to be related to his active service.,There is no evidence of a sleep disability other than sleep apnea in the record.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted for the period from November 1, 2019, but not prior to that date. The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran could secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that it is unclear whether the Veteran was exhibited a foot disability other than the service connected right foot injury residuals and, if so, whether he has a recurrent left foot disability. Further VA foot evaluation is needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral flat feet, calcaneal spurs, lumbar spondylolysis L5 with spondylolisthesis, rheumatoid arthritis (indicated by radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities), tinnitus, and hiatal hernia, render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment as of January 11, 2023. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's right ankle condition is granted as service-connected. The remaining issues of bilateral pes planus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, bilateral knee conditions, obstructive sleep apnea, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's right foot, left foot, right ankle, left ankle, and right knee disabilities are all found to be related to service.,Service connection is granted for a major depressive disorder with secondary alcohol abuse.

The appeals for increased ratings for right and left knee conditions, bilateral pes planus, and lumbar spine DJD have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeal of these issues.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ratings for lumbar spine conditions, radiculopathies, shoulder conditions, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The appeals are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral foot disability are remanded for further examination to assess their current severity.