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

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to link the Veteran's current bilateral foot disabilities, including pes planus and plantar fasciitis, to his active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for left and right foot disabilities is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical pain, lower back disability, bilateral foot disability, bronchitis, hypertension, stomach injury, ulcer disease, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service, and that any current conditions are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed skin disabilities of the feet, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and bilateral hearing loss disability are not service-connected. The Board found no evidence to support a connection between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including psychiatric disability, migraines, left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities, lumbar spine disability, tinnitus, hypertension, left knee disability, right foot disability, and right leg scar, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and bilateral pes planus. The Veteran's attorney is entitled to additional fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the May 2018 decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, gout of the bilateral feet, and bilateral foot and knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions based on in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, left ankle, bilateral foot, and headache disabilities. The reasons given were that there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his time in service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus has been rated at the highest schedular evaluation available, and a higher rating is not warranted.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted as it is proximately due to service-connected disabilities (bilateral pes planus and left knee strain).,Service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy is granted as it is proximately due to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine.,Service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy is granted as it is proximately due to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right foot, left foot, left ankle, and left knee disabilities. The decision also noted that erectile dysfunction was not shown to be related to service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis began during his reserve service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left foot disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their onset in service or relation to service.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for plantar fasciitis of the left foot with calcaneal osteophytosis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5269 or 5284.

Your appeals for service connection of various disabilities have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was denied initial ratings in excess of 10 percent prior to May 13, 2021 and in excess of 30 percent beginning May 13, 2021.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the relationship between current left foot disabilities and service, including a shrapnel wound.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar disc degeneration, cervical strain, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and right hip and pelvic pain due to procedural issues with the Notice of Disagreement form.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected MDD, bilateral foot disabilities, and acquired pes cavus are being remanded due to the need for additional development of the record.

The Board has partially vacated its decision regarding increased ratings for bilateral pes planus with callus formation and migraine headaches due to the Veteran's withdrawal of earlier effective date claims. The issues are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings for various knee and ankle disabilities due to new evidence being added to the file.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral pes planus and bilateral plantar fasciitis due to a failure to comply with previous remand instructions. The Veteran's service connection claims are now pending again.