Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and will need to obtain a VA opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and his military service, as well as any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for adding his dependent children and spouse, finding that he did not meet the legal requirements for common law marriage in Texas. The Veteran was granted service connection for various disabilities but had a combined disability rating of at least 30% from March 13, 2019, which is when he became eligible for dependency awards.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left foot disability, right foot disability, right knee disability, and low back disability. The claims are being remanded to correct duty to assist errors prior to the December 2019 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a higher rating for his right knee disability have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these matters at this time.

The Board denied service connection for a left lower extremity disability, bilateral pes planus, tremors of the right hand, and tremors of the left hand. The evidence did not support the presence of these conditions during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus has been granted.,The matter of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to conflicting diagnoses and insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right ankle pain.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and plantar fasciitis. The issues include increased ratings for PTSD, right shoulder impingement syndrome, lumbar strain, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis has been dismissed. The cases for degenerative arthritis of the left and right knees have been remanded, as well as the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on multiple service-connected disabilities have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's pes planus disability permanently increased in severity during service and whether any current foot condition had its onset during service or is related to any in-service disease, event, or injury.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot disability, including hammer toe, painful scars, plantar fasciitis, and foot cramping, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by her military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and remand have been addressed. The hearing loss claim is denied, the right foot disability claim has been granted with a 10% rating, and both knee issues are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence supports a finding of in-service onset and continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's left hip strain is caused by his service-connected radiculopathy of the lower extremities. The Board finds that there is at least a 50% likelihood that the Veteran's bilateral flat feet are caused or aggravated by his service-connected ankles.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to the evidence being in equipoise.,Other issues related to hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, hip and knee disabilities, foot disabilities, seizure disorder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, kidney disability, eye disability, and hepatitis are remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for service connection for flat feet before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and missing VA treatment records. The issues include increased ratings for knee conditions, service connection for ankle, hand, foot, and cardiac conditions.