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

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for varicose veins in the left lower leg was denied, while his claim for service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis was granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to a lack of adequate nexus opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for multiple palmar and plantar hyperkeratosis in May 1968, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus to service. The decision is not considered CUE.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left fallen arches and heel pain, right and left plantar fasciitis, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and acid reflux due to inadequate opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was found to have been aggravated by service, leading to the grant of service connection.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on in-service noise exposure. However, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral pes planus, left foot hallux valgus, and right foot hallux valgus as these conditions were granted on a secondary basis to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran was able to maintain employment at a university despite his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and foot conditions. The Board found the evidence did not support a TDIU prior to August 16, 2020.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all his claims, including service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, a right shoulder disorder, a left shoulder disorder, a lumbar spine disorder, a left knee disorder, a right ankle disorder, a left ankle disorder, and a bilateral foot disorder. As a result, the appeals are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to errors in obtaining and verifying all periods of active duty, including ACDUTRA. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for his claimed disabilities as they do not appear to be related to any period of ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left and right flat feet with plantar fasciitis has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was previously rated at 30 percent prior to May 18, 2022, and now has a staged rating of 50 percent beginning May 18, 2022. The current ratings are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral hammertoes, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and a back disability. The Veteran's DM is remanded due to the need for further medical examination.

The Board has found that the RO substantially complied with the February 2022 Board remand directives. The Veteran's claims for service connection and a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis, right elbow disability, left elbow disability, right wrist disability, and left wrist disability are all remanded due to inadequate examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right foot disability is etiologically related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing pes planus was aggravated during his period of active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD, bilateral pes planus, low back disability, and headache disability are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis, left foot plantar fasciitis, mild hypertrophic facet arthrosis of the lower lumbar spine (lumbar spine disability), right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis. The claims are based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and denied service connection for a right hip condition. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service diagnosis of severe pes planus, which resolved post-service but continued to cause symptoms. For the right hip condition, the VA examiner found no current disability related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that it is a congenital defect not subject to a superimposed disease or injury during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right foot and knee conditions have been denied. His plantar calcaneal spur exostosis of the right foot is currently rated at 10 percent, while his right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndromes are each rated at 10 percent.