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

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in May and July 2023 were not adequate for adjudicating the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral knee condition, to include as secondary to pes planus. The claim is being remanded again for further development.

The Board has remanded the claim for an in-person examination to address a right foot or ankle disability, including pes planus. The examiner is requested to provide opinions on whether any current disabilities are related to service and if pes planus aggravated other conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed left foot disability, which may be related to service or his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the submission of a VA Form 10182, which was not appropriate for his legacy system appeals. The AOJ must issue an SOC and allow the Veteran to file a substantive appeal if he wishes to continue his appeal under the legacy appeals system.

The Veteran's bilateral foot pain is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error, and the claims are now subject to further examination and consideration on all possible theories of entitlement.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, plantar fasciitis, bilateral pes planus, and degenerative arthritis of the feet based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's bilateral foot condition is not related to his active service.,There is no evidence of a current bilateral lower extremity neurological condition, and the Veteran does not have radiculopathy or neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral flat feet disability and left knee disability due to insufficient evidence, including a lack of VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral flat feet (pes planus) as his preexisting condition did not worsen during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected foot disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for plantar fasciitis of the right foot and acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to a lack of medical evidence.

The Veteran's chronic adjustment disorder was granted service connection. The Board also remanded several other issues for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pes planus is a direct result of his military service, but additional evidence and an opinion are needed to determine if it was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, respiratory disability, prostate disability, left arm disability (hand carpal tunnel), right arm disability (hand carpal tunnel), left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, low back disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, gastrointestinal disorder, sleep apnea, and obesity due to insufficient rationale in the VA opinions provided on remand. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with unspecified schizophrenia and other psychotic disorder. The appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, a liver disorder, tinnitus, hypertension, septal infarct, a left foot disability, and a right foot disability has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD but has remanded the issues of residuals of a broken nose, obstructive sleep apnea, heart disability, bilateral pes planus, and low back disability due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and pes planus. The VA medical opinion will be required to determine if there is a relationship between the conditions and military service, including noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted. The Board finds the evidence does not support a finding of current disability for bilateral hearing loss, but grants service connection for tinnitus as related to active duty service. Service connection for flat foot pes planus (claimed as plantar fasciitis) is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the assignment of evaluations for migraine headaches, PTSD, and bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis has been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.