Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal to establish earlier effective dates for service connection and Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits was timely filed, as his Substantive Appeal was submitted within two months of the issuance of the Statement of the Case (SOC) and included a request for an extension due to COVID-19 relief.

Service connection for bilateral pes planus is granted due to aggravation during service.,Service connection for bilateral bunions is remanded as the evidence is in equipoise.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including psychiatric conditions, spinal disorders, knee and foot disabilities, hepatitis C, hypertension, gastrointestinal issues, and shoulder and elbow conditions. The evidence submitted did not provide new or relevant information to support these claims.

The Board denied service connection for pes planus, left foot neuralgia, and right foot neuralgia. The appeal was remanded to consider whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, pes planus, right wrist disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's pes planus was granted as related to his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left foot disability, including achilles tendonitis, osteoarthritis, plantar fasciitis, and pes planus. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between the current left foot disabilities and service or service-connected right foot conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented her from securing and following substantially gainful employment from August 2, 2018 to October 31, 2020.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability and lumbosacral spine disability are being remanded for additional medical opinions to determine if they were caused or aggravated by her active service, including periods of annual training in the National Guard. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's right foot hallux valgus, plantar fasciitis, and bilateral pes planus were not related to his military service. The Board denied the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including colon cancer, thyroid condition, lung condition, prostate condition, skin condition, and left foot disability, due to his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Additional development is needed to obtain medical records and provide opinions on the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition and bilateral plantar fasciitis due to insufficient opinions in the VA examination reports. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that these conditions are related to her military service.

A 10 percent rating, but no higher, is granted for the service-connected hemorrhoids.,Service connection for plantar fasciitis is denied.

The Board denied service connection for pes planus, left foot neuralgia, and right foot neuralgia. The appeal was remanded to consider the claim of service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for urinary tract infections, bilateral foot disability claimed as plantar fasciitis, right knee strain secondary to her service-connected left knee disability, and lumbosacral strain secondary to her service-connected left knee disability. The appeals are all resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and ratings have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tension headaches, a right foot disability, and a skin disorder due to incomplete examinations in prior decisions.

The Board dismissed the issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error in rating decisions for service connection for bilateral pes planus with degenerative changes, as the appeal is moot due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral flat feet, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and bilateral foot discoloration as the evidence did not support a causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's right foot pes planus was aggravated beyond its natural progression during service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issue of whether his right great toe disability is secondary to his service-connected right foot pes planus remains on appeal.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus, finding that the condition did not result in more than moderate impairment.