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

The Veteran's low back disability was granted a rating of 20 percent prior to January 26, 2017. The Veteran's bilateral foot disability was denied any increase in rating prior to November 1, 2019.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional records and a determination of employment feasibility. The Board will refer the issue to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration on an extra-schedular basis.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis was denied. The claim for restoration of the 20 percent rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS effective January 1, 2016 was granted. The claim for an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS was denied.

The Board has ordered remand for the Veteran to provide service treatment records and obtain a medical opinion regarding his bilateral foot disabilities, including pes planus with arthritis and hammer toes. The examiner should consider the Veteran's statements about in-service foot pain and progression of symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple claims for various conditions, with some issues remanded for further review and others denied. The primary issue is the denial of a higher rating for tinnitus, which has been assigned the maximum schedular rating.

The Veteran's initial increased rating of 50 percent for tarsal tunnel syndrome, to include plantar fasciitis, is dismissed as the highest schedular evaluation has been granted. The claim for a compensable disability rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, finding insufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board acknowledged some physical limitations but did not find them severe enough to preclude employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to February 17, 2009. The Board finds that the evidence is factually ascertainable and tends to show that he was unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and degenerative arthritis of the right ankle, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of July 15, 2010. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeals for hearing loss, lumbosacral strain, bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, and cervical spine condition have all been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle residuals from an in-service softball injury and bilateral pes planus (flat feet) with orthotics, finding the evidence to be at least evenly balanced.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, but denied the underlying claim as it was not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that the Veteran's current condition began during his military service and is related to his in-service symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to February 13, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions provided are inadequate and requires additional development to address the Veteran's claims for service connection. The issues of pes planus, bilateral foot disability (including degenerative joint disease), left-hand disability (other than left wrist osteoarthritis and left fifth finger sprain), bilateral knee disability, sleep apnea, right scapular pain, and dizziness are all remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further review of his service connection claims, initial rating claim, and TDIU claim.

The Board has decided to remand four issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities: insomnia disorder, gout, pes planus, and left ankle collateral ligament sprain. The reasons for this are that VA examinations were not conducted in a timely manner and there is conflicting information regarding the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, ankle, knee, and spine conditions due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran is not presumed to have had these conditions during his active service.