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

The Board denied service connection for various hip, ankle, foot, and back disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service. The claims were based on direct service connection.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for a foot disability, to include flat feet, is denied.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been reopened and service connection is granted.,The Veteran's claims for lumbar spine, left knee, right knee, left foot plantar fasciitis, and cervical spine disabilities have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right lower extremity fibular sesamoiditis with flexor hallucis longus tendinitis and right foot plantar fasciitis are rated at 20 percent each, effective from November 25, 2014. The Veteran's right knee chronic patellofemoral pain syndrome is denied a higher rating, but his symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage is granted a separate 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was aggravated during service, warranting service connection for this condition.,His right ankle disability is secondary to his now-service-connected bilateral pes planus and also warrants service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot, left foot, and low back disabilities due to a lack of medical evidence regarding these conditions. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's asthma is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected asthma symptoms.,The Veteran's plantar fasciitis is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to service, including in-service foot pain conditions.,The Veteran's heat injury with residuals is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to service.

The Board has directed that VA examinations be obtained for the Veteran's claimed right foot, left foot, right ankle, left ankle, right knee, left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities. These issues are currently remanded to obtain these evaluations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back, left hip, right hip, left hand and wrist, right hand and wrist, left foot, and right foot disabilities. The appeals are pending resolution.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's arthritis and heel spurs are related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus with linear scars and metatarsalgia.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pes planus, which was noted on his entrance examination, increased in severity during service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for examinations to assess the Veteran's functional impairment due to his service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral foot condition was granted a 50% rating effective April 13, 2022. The right knee and left knee disabilities were denied increased ratings prior to April 13, 2022, but granted a separate 10% rating for left knee instability as of August 9, 2019. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a 40% rating throughout the period on appeal. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a disability rating of 50 percent, but no higher. The left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. Multiple service connection claims are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for left hip disability, but granted service connection for right hip strain, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral plantar fasciitis as secondary to service-connected PTSD and bilateral knee disabilities.,Reasoning: The private medical opinions provided a link between the Veteran's obesity (an intermediate step) and his current conditions of bilateral plantar fasciitis and right hip strain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The issues of prostate, erectile dysfunction, GERD, GI ulcer, and sleep condition are related to the Veteran's in-service stressors or symptoms.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a left ankle condition, right foot plantar fasciitis, and left foot plantar fasciitis are remanded due to the need for VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of left ankle condition, right ankle condition, bilateral pes planus (also claimed as left foot condition), respiratory condition, left shoulder condition, left knee condition, neck/cervical spine condition, and lower back/spine/thoracic spine condition have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a final rating decision in August 2013, finding that he did not serve in Vietnam and thus could not establish exposure to herbicides. The Veteran argued CUE based on his receipt of the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), but the Board found no evidence supporting his claim as it was known at the time of the decision.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral pes planus, bilateral knee conditions, and migraine headaches as the Veteran withdrew these claims in writing.