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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment for the appeal period prior to December 2, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and osteoarthritis of bilateral knees as secondary to service-connected pes planus.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability, including as secondary to service-connected disabilities (including pes planus), is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and need for further medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder, but remanded the claims for service connection of other conditions including a right hand disorder, right foot disorder, right hip disorder, and low back disorder due to in-service injuries.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from August 31, 2009 to September 12, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology and aggravation of the Veteran's right foot disabilities, including Morton's neuroma, hammertoe, hallus valgus, and plantar fasciitis. The claim is being decided on the merits as new evidence was received since the last denial.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with its prior remand directives and has therefore ordered the VA to make additional efforts to obtain the Veteran's missing separation examination. The issues of service connection for a pelvic disorder, hypertension, pes planus, and invertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine are all remanded due to the need for further development regarding range of motion estimates. The issue of TDIU prior to September 12, 2019 is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these other issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot and right hip disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The issues are inextricably intertwined, so both must be addressed together.

The Board has granted service connection for a thyroid disorder, diagnosed as hypothyroidism, due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, anemia, and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis was granted an initial 50 percent rating from June 24, 2010 to September 25, 2017. A higher rating is denied throughout the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The Board has also remanded several other issues for further development and clarification of the evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted effective May 22, 2013. The maximum schedular rating of 50% was assigned for bilateral pes planus with left foot osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's PTSD and bilateral pes planus claims are being remanded for additional medical evaluation and consideration.

The Board has denied service connection for a left foot disability, a right foot disability other than Achilles tendonitis, and hearing loss. Service connection was granted for left lower extremity neuropathy and right lower extremity neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a retrospective medical opinion regarding the severity of bilateral pes planus prior to December 7, 2019.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left foot, left knee, and bilateral hip disabilities due to their potential secondary nature to his service-connected conditions. The AOJ will schedule these examinations and provide a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot disability and right foot disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right foot pes planus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for bilateral pes planus due to a lack of compliance with prior remand directives and insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's military service aggravated his pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cold injury residuals was denied, and the appeal to reopen this claim is dismissed. The Veteran's bilateral plantar calluses are rated at 10% since April 14, 2009.