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

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an additional VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left foot disability, specifically addressing the prior diagnosis of bilateral metatarsalgia.

The Board has found pre-decisional duty to assist errors for the Veteran's lumbar spine, left foot, and left hand disabilities. The case is remanded to obtain additional records and provide a new medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, left knee disability, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The Board also remanded the issues regarding bilateral foot disability and left hip disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and therefore his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral sensory polyneuropathy is granted as service-connected, and the Board finds that it is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected back disability. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral ankle, foot, and tarsal tunnel syndrome are remanded.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an updated opinion regarding its etiology. The respiratory disability case is also being remanded for further addendum opinions.,The Board has determined that more development is needed in both cases, including obtaining additional medical records and providing new opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's left ankle disorder and respiratory condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for further diagnostic testing.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating and SMC based on loss of use of the left foot is remanded due to incomplete VA examination reports. The Board requires additional retrospective medical findings to determine if there is effective function remaining other than that which would be equally well served by an amputation with prosthetic.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The increased rating claims for hip and knee conditions were remanded due to insufficient information regarding the range of motion estimates after repeated use over time and flareups.

The Veteran's claim for SMC at other than the housebound rate was denied as he did not meet the criteria for this benefit during the specified period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a bilateral foot disability due to conflicting findings in previous examinations and new evidence presented during the appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus as it is not related to the service-connected bilateral ankle disability. The left and right ankle disabilities are granted with a 20% evaluation each.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the RO's failure to substantially comply with previous Board remand instructions and legal inaccuracies in their subsequent rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, headache disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to insufficient service records and inadequate medical opinions. The claims will be reviewed again with additional evidence and examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to issues with his hearing officer at a previous hearing, and because of new evidence submitted by the appellant. The Veteran is now required to provide additional evidence supporting his service connection claims.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to obtain outstanding medical records and provide the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that his character of discharge was dishonorable and served as a bar to VA benefits.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the retroactive payment for his service-connected pes planus from May 5, 1960 is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine, joint aches, left hip, right hip, left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, bilateral foot, psychiatric disorder, mitral valve insufficiency and coronary artery disease, hernia disorder, and dental disorders due to the need for further evidentiary development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of his left foot, finding that there is no effective function remaining other than what would be equally well served by an amputation with a suitable prosthetic appliance.