Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring the Veteran to undergo a VA examination to determine if his current pes planus is related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's current bilateral foot disorders and their relation to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various orthopedic disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of right and left foot disabilities, as well as right and left shin pain, must be remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The claims are inextricably intertwined with each other.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or continuity of symptoms for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for plantar fasciitis was dismissed because the VA Form 10182 she submitted as an appeal was not timely and did not provide proper appellate rights.

The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis is granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent, effective July 5, 2021. The earlier effective date for service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis is also granted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus and denied an increased disability rating in excess of 50 percent for the service-connected psychiatric disability. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was found to have preexisted active service, and there was no evidence of aggravation during service. For the psychiatric disability, the Board found that the criteria for a 50 percent rating were met based on occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's right and left femoral neuropathies, as well as bilateral pes planus, have been granted increased ratings. The Veteran's right and left sciatic and external popliteal neuropathies have also been granted increased ratings. However, the Veteran's left knee limitation of flexion has not met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for TDIU and remanded his claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and left foot scars. The case is now back with the Board for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus on the basis that it was aggravated by active service, despite a pre-existing condition.

The Board remands the issue of service connection for a right foot disability, diagnosed as plantar fasciitis in the right foot and previously referred to as 'right heel spurs', due to an inadequate VA examination addendum opinion.

The claims of service connection for DMII, a heart disability, Erdheim-Chester disease, Barrett's esophagus, epistaxis, squamous cell carcinoma, left foot disability, right foot disability, bone cancer, and myeloma are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence.,Service connection is also being remanded for diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII), a heart disability, Erdheim-Chester disease, Barrett's esophagus, epistaxis, squamous cell carcinoma, left foot disability, right foot disability, bone cancer, and myeloma.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a foot condition due to lack of evidence supporting a link between the conditions and the Veteran's military service. The claim for arthritis of the hands was remanded for further development.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.,The Veteran's plantar fasciitis including bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus and residuals of left great toe fracture is rated at 30 percent, which is appropriate given her symptoms do not meet the criteria for more severe ratings.,The Veteran's bilateral TMD joint dysfunction with nocturnal bruxism is rated at 10 percent, which is appropriate based on her interincisal range and dietary restrictions.,The Veteran's cervical strain with degenerative arthritis including disc space narrowing is rated at 10 percent, which is appropriate given the limitations in motion and functional impairment.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve is rated at 30 percent, which is appropriate based on her symptoms and findings.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve is rated at 40 percent, which is appropriate given the severity of her symptoms and functional impairment.,The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain including degenerative arthritis is rated at 20 percent, which is appropriate based on her findings and limitations.,The Veteran's uterine fibroid is not compensable as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis was granted a 10% rating as of February 7, 2021. The condition is not considered severe enough to warrant higher ratings.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and left hip disability, as the evidence did not support current disabilities or symptoms that cause functional impairment of earning capacity. The claims for a left knee disability, right ankle disability, and right foot disability were remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 3, 2019, for the award of a rating of 50 percent for bilateral pes planus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's pes planus disability reasonably has been ratable at the level of 50 percent disabling since he filed his claim on September 3, 2019.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received, warranting readjudication of the claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder. The appeal is remanded due to duty to assist error prior to the Veteran's participation in the RAMP program.

The Veteran's claim for PCAFC benefits was remanded due to inadequate notice and reasoning in the original decision. The Board found that the VA Caregiver evaluation assessment did not clearly address the Veteran's current conditions, particularly his neurocognitive disorders, pain, loss of use, weakness, dizziness, and vertigo, which affect his need for personal care services.