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

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective January 15, 2020. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected foot disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment as of this date.

The Board has determined that there have been issues with compliance regarding the remand directives for several of the Veteran's claims, and thus these matters are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis are rated at 30 percent from February 22, 2017. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating prior to this date.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis but has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left ankle conditions secondary to bilateral plantar fasciitis due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae scars on the face was denied due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or relationship to service. The claims for scar of the right hip, plantar fasciitis of the left foot, and plantar fasciitis of the right foot were granted as they are considered direct service connection cases.,The Veteran's GERD is considered direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, right thumb disability, and bilateral pes planus require additional examinations to determine their current severity. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for alcohol use disorder, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, folliculitis of the shoulders, back, hips and thighs, subluxation and chondromalacia of the left knee, bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus, de Quervain's tenosynovitis of the upper extremities, osteoarthritis of the bilateral great toes, and right and left shoulder strain have been withdrawn. The Veteran has been granted service connection for PTSD.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for insomnia, residuals of an injury to the left index finger, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, chronic tendonitis and patella dislocation of the right knee, right knee scar, deviated nasal septum, allergic rhinitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus from February 10, 2004 to April 26, 2005 as the Veteran's bilateral pes planus did not more nearly approximate a 'pronounced' acquired flatfoot disability during this period.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for plantar fasciitis prior to February 7, 2021 was denied. For the period from February 7, 2021 to June 14, 2021, a higher evaluation than 10 percent was not granted. However, beginning June 14, 2021, an evaluation of 30 percent for plantar fasciitis is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, right knee PFS, left knee PFS, right foot plantar fasciitis with heel spurs, and left foot plantar fasciitis with heel spurs have been granted. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claims for neck disorder, headaches, and PTSD for further development.

The Veteran's initial rating for left foot sole scar prior to December 1, 2017 is denied. The Veteran's claim of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a left eye disability due to VA surgery in November 2009 is also denied. Other issues related to service connection and effective dates are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left foot disability in June 1991. The Veteran is appealing this decision, but the Board has determined that there was no clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the original decision.

The Veteran's tension headaches were granted a 50% rating effective May 13, 2019. The other conditions and disabilities were not found to warrant compensable ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation until his retirement in December 2018 due to health issues and 'life in general'.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability and a bilateral foot disability (to include plantar fasciitis) based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's right hip disability is rated at a 40 percent rating (but not higher) and a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of extension from January 14, 2015. The Board has also remanded the issues regarding service connection for right foot and left foot disabilities as well as the issue regarding a compensable rating for bladder dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee, ankle, and pes planus disabilities due to inadequate examination reports from previous VA examinations. The Veteran is also being asked to provide a separate compensable rating for his bilateral pes planus.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for entitlement to service connection for a plantar wart of the right foot. The remaining issues have been remanded due to need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased evaluation in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records and conducting new examinations. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being evaluated to determine if they render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.