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

The Veteran's right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis is currently rated at 20 percent prior to February 18, 2020 and denied for a higher rating. The Veteran's left knee chronic synovitis and degenerative joint disease, right knee chronic synovitis and degenerative joint disease, and bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus are all currently rated at 10 percent prior to February 18, 2020 and denied for higher ratings.,From February 18, 2020, the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus is rated at 30 percent and denied for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and remanded the issue of an increased rating for right knee disability. The claim for bilateral plantar fasciitis was denied due to lack of evidence linking current symptoms to military service.

The Veteran's left and right foot disabilities have been granted service connection with effective dates of June 27, 2013. Effective date for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has not been granted.

The Board denied service connection for left foot, left knee and bilateral hip disabilities as there was no evidence of onset in service or within one year following discharge. The Veteran's current conditions were not shown to be causally related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for disabilities of the bilateral feet and ankles due to a withdrawal request by the appellant's authorized representative.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted as service connected.,Left upper extremity radiculopathy, claimed as left arm disability, and right upper extremity radiculopathy are both granted as secondary to the service-connected cervical spine disability.,Left foot disability, including pes planus, is granted as service connected.,An increased rating for residuals of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as her service-connected disabilities did not prevent her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right foot disability and its relationship to service. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran no longer has right foot pes planus and his symptoms are due to plantar fasciitis. The claim for a separate evaluation for pes planus is denied. The case is remanded for an addendum opinion regarding the increased rating for right ankle sprain prior to February 26, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding that the Veteran's preexisting pes planus was aggravated by his active-duty service.,The Board also granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as due to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), noting a strong correlation between PTSD and sleep apnea but no causal relationship established.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to additional evidence being associated with the claims file.

The Board has granted service connection for right thumb/wrist joint pain, left thumb/wrist joint pain, and right elbow joint pain as incurred during the Veteran's Persian Gulf service. Service connection was denied for other conditions.

The Board has granted a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis prior to February 11, 2022, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with prior remand instructions. The Veteran's service-connected skin lesion of the plantar aspect of the left foot is being reviewed for a retrospective opinion concerning its severity during the period from January 2007 to the present.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, Hepatitis B and/or Hepatitis C, high blood pressure, right foot disability, and left foot disability. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.,There is no persuasive medical evidence linking any current disabilities to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Pes Planus, Hallux Valgus, and Degenerative Arthritis, finding that these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and degenerative joint disease of the hands have not been reopened. The claims for instability, limitation of flexion, and limitation of extension ratings for knees are granted. The claim for TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is denied as it is not shown to be related to service.,The Veteran's right hip condition is denied due to lack of evidence of any current diagnosis or in-service injury.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on continuity of symptoms from service to the present.,Service connection for bilateral pes planus is denied as there is no indication of worsening beyond natural progression during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot and right hip disabilities due to insufficient development of evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral foot disabilities, including pes planus and plantar fasciitis.