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

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral athlete's foot, right and left foot disabilities, and headaches due to inadequate opinions in the June 2020 VA examination reports. The Veteran must be provided with an addendum opinion addressing his service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the earliest document in the claims file that may be accepted as a claim for service connection was received on May 1, 2014, for peroneal sensory neuropathy of the right lower extremity.

The Board denied service connection for a left foot disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's preexisting left foot condition was not aggravated by service, and his current bilateral plantar fasciitis is not related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing medical records and requests for additional development.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence meeting the criteria for a disability. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability is remanded as there are outstanding records and an opinion is needed regarding the etiology of his condition.

The Veteran's service-connected flat feet do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU appeal is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right foot disorders, including as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities. The Veteran's pre-existing pes planus and hallux valgus were not aggravated by her active duty service.

The Board has denied service connection for right hip, left hip, right foot, and left foot disabilities secondary to the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of the claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence does not establish a current disability or an in-service event, injury, or disease.

The Board has remanded three issues: 1) the issue of entitlement to an initial evaluation greater than 30 percent for bilateral pes planus, 2) service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), and 3) service connection for left and right ankle/leg disabilities. The Veteran's depression is secondary to his service-connected foot disabilities, but the VA examiner’s opinion was inadequate as it did not address the relationship between pain caused by service-connected disabilities and the Veteran's depression. For the ankle/leg issues, the VA examiner found that the degenerative joint disease of the bilateral ankles is not proximately due or aggravated by the service-connected foot disabilities. The obesity causing the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the bilateral ankles was also not addressed in the opinion.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, bilateral pes cavus, and right foot osteoarthritis as these conditions did not manifest in active duty service or are otherwise attributable to service.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of right wrist tendonitis and remanded other claims due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right foot conditions, specifically plantar fasciitis and right achilles tendon insertion traction spur. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's left foot disability is currently rated as 50 percent disabling, which is the maximum schedular rating for any of his service-connected left foot disabilities. The appeal to increase this rating to higher than 50 percent has been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a VA examination, and additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral foot disability and restless leg syndrome due to insufficient development. The issues include determining whether these conditions are related to service, including an in-service injury or exposure.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to inadequate medical opinions. The main issues are about right knee, bilateral hand, Achilles tendonitis, left knee and foot disabilities, as well as lumbar spine and upper back disabilities.

The Veteran's lung disability and bilateral pes planus have been granted service connection. The claims for anemia and thyroid disability have been denied.,New evidence has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for lung disability and bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because his service-connected bilateral pes planus does not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to conflicting medical opinions and missing records. The issues include right ear hearing loss, jungle rot, left foot disability, and vertigo.