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

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period prior to July 16, 2010 due to his service-connected disabilities making it impossible for him to maintain gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of the conditions, including right knee chondromalacia, left knee Palligrini-Stieda's disease with chondromalacia, seborrheic dermatitis, bilateral pes planus, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right elbow disability, left elbow disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), neck or cervical spine disability, and low back or thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot pes planus, finding that an examination is needed to determine if his preexisting conditions worsened during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, hiatal hernia, and bilateral plantar warts were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for compression fracture of L1, cervical segmental dysfunction, neck pain, and myofascitis and arthritis, bilateral pes planus, and left shoulder osteoarthritis have been reopened. The Board found that new evidence supports reopening these claims but denied the underlying service connection due to lack of a nexus between the conditions and active service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine if his bilateral foot disorder, other than onychomycosis and tinea pedis, is related to service. The VA examiner must also consider the Veteran's reports of pain in service and after service.

The Veteran's left knee condition was rated as 10 percent prior to June 27, 2014 and denied a higher rating. The current rating for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and heel spurs is 50 percent effective December 16, 2019.,The Veteran's bursitis of the right shoulder was rated as 20 percent prior to March 29, 2017 and increased to 30 percent from December 16, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, lumbar spine disability, and lower extremity radiculopathy as the evidence did not show a current disability or etiology related to in-service injury.,The Board also denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability due to lack of evidence showing an in-service event, injury, or disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability was granted in March 2020. The issue of TDIU prior to February 21, 2020 is denied as the Veteran has maintained substantially gainful employment. The issue of TDIU from February 21, 2020 remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left foot disability but has remanded the cervical spine issue due to additional development being necessary.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for a thorough etiological opinion considering the Veteran's lay reports of symptoms. The claim will be reviewed again after obtaining additional records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right foot disability, sinusitis, and hemorrhoids due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions. The cases are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to various joints and pain conditions, but the Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if any of these conditions are service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right foot disability, finding that his condition was due to a congenital defect and not related to active military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral foot disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral flat feet, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and left knee disability due to potential aggravation of pre-existing conditions during service. Additional evidence is needed and an expert opinion is required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since November 1, 2012. The Board has granted an effective date of November 1, 2012 for the award of TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his combined disability ratings did not meet the schedular requirements and there was insufficient evidence showing he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability and prostate condition are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's prostate condition is remanded to determine if it is related to service-connected diabetes mellitus or exposure to herbicide agents. The TDIU claim is deferred pending the outcome of these matters.,

The Board denied service connection for right and left shin splints, right and left foot disabilities, and right and left ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence of current diagnoses.