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

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities, particularly those related to his service. The Veteran is required to provide verification of all periods of active duty and ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA, and a VA examination must be conducted to determine if any current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including anxiety, depression, cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, upper and lower back spasms, right knee disability, left knee disability, and left foot disability. The reasons include a lack of service treatment records from the relevant periods.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to inadequate medical opinions and missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis and left knee degenerative arthritis have been granted service connection. The case of recurrent multi joint and muscle disability (fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome) is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis was rated at 30% from January 7, 2013 to September 5, 2019. From September 5, 2019 to September 23, 2019 and January 1, 2020 to the present, his disability was rated at 30%. The Board denied higher ratings for these periods.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for cataracts has been dismissed. Service connection for hemorrhoids, PTSD, and various other disabilities have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder disability. The claims for back, right hip, bilateral foot disabilities, and migraines are remanded due to inadequate VA opinions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right foot plantar fasciitis and tarsal tunnel syndrome status post fasciotomies, finding that new evidence supports a reopening of these claims. The Board then found that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the disabilities are related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus was granted in a May 2021 rating decision, but the appeal is dismissed as the claim has been fully satisfied.

The Veteran's treatment at St. Luke Medical Center on August 10, 2017 was for a condition that required immediate medical attention due to an infected abscess in the left groin. The VA facilities were not feasible and the Veteran could not reach them promptly. Therefore, payment or reimbursement is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his bilateral feet disabilities and service connection for a back disability due to new evidence being sought. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it may be impacted by these issues.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, talo-calcaneal coalition, hallux valgus, and exostosis of the first metatarsal are found to be aggravated by service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected physical disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus as due to herbicide exposure. The heart disability, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and foot disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of his neck, left hip, and bilateral foot disabilities. The claims are not currently decided on service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left knee disability, bilateral pes planus, and right ankle. The decision is based on the need for additional VA treatment records related to these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, effectively dismissing the claims for service connection for a back disorder with an associated lower extremity disorder and flat feet.

The Veteran's left ankle and foot disabilities have been rated as 10 percent each, effective February 23, 2012. The Board finds that the current ratings are appropriate given the limited range of motion in both ankles.

The Board has determined that the development conducted does not comply with the March 2021 Board remand directives and thus, the case is being REMANDED for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea syndrome secondary to service-connected exercised-induced asthma. However, the Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus is denied as there is no evidence of aggravation during active duty.