Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle or foot disability. The evidence did not support the appellant's claims that these conditions were incurred in or related to his military service.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction was granted. The Board found new and material evidence, thus reopening the claim.,Service connection for bilateral pes planus on an aggravation basis is granted as the preexisting condition worsened during active military service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for pes planus has been reopened, but the new evidence does not establish a nexus to service. The petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability was denied as no material evidence was received. His PTSD remains at 70%.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for chronic sinusitis was denied. The claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, lumbar spine disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder were all denied as well.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including right foot disability, left foot disability, intestinal disability (to include colon cancer and benign neoplasms), skin disability, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran is also being asked to provide additional medical records and undergo VA examinations for these matters.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus and cervical spine disability due to conflicting medical evidence regarding their onset during service.

The Board denied service connection for flat feet and bone spurs, finding that the conditions did not clearly and unmistakably pre-exist service and were not shown to be related to active duty.

The Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for a right leg disability, bilateral ankle disability, and bilateral pes planus have been granted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for these conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected plantar fasciitis was denied by the Board. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various lower extremity disabilities due to incomplete development and lack of nexus opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hammertoes, hallux valgus, intractable plantar keratosis (IPK), bilateral knee disorders, and unequal length of the right leg due to potential service connection issues.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral foot disabilities, including pes planus, as the Veteran's preexisting pes planus did not increase in severity during his period of active duty from July 1978 to February 1980. The Board also granted a TDIU based on service-connected disability.,The Board remanded the issue of service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to service-connected disease or injury, but no decision was made.

The Board remands the claims for further evidentiary development and to ensure compliance with prior remand instructions.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum under Diagnostic Code 5276.,Prior to July 22, 2021, the Veteran's lumbosacral strain was rated at 10 percent and from July 22, 2021, it has been rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 19, 2014 for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted. The Veteran's claim for reopening his previously denied left ear hearing loss and secondary service connection for a left foot disability are both remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, bilateral foot disability (plantar fasciitis), and right foot disability due to incomplete development in previous VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions on a direct basis.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral pes planus with pronounced symptoms, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease are granted. The Veteran is also entitled to a maximum schedular rating of 50 percent for his bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral congenital pes planus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and PTSD), and gout, bilateral feet have all been denied. The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus is a congenital disease not aggravated by service, his acquired psychiatric disorder does not meet the criteria for service connection as it did not begin during service or be related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, and his gout was not shown to have begun during service.,Service connection on secondary basis has also been denied due to lack of a service-connected condition.