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

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right foot disability and bilateral eye disability due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran's claims will be further developed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a viral infection of the bilateral feet was denied. The rating for PTSD prior to January 23, 2020, and from that date onward were both remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding her left foot condition and right foot conditions, as well as a lack of updated VA treatment records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for her left foot condition and scar, which she contends are related to her right foot condition.

The Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of a bilateral foot disability, including pes planus, has been granted. Service connection is also granted for the back disability. The case is remanded due to inadequate etiology opinions regarding the bilateral foot disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis, low back disability, right knee disability, and right ankle disability due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected left foot plantar fasciitis with Achilles' tendonitis and bilateral foot calcaneus Haglund's heel is rated at 10 percent, effective July 10, 2009. The initial ratings for shin splints of the left and right lower extremities are also granted at 10 percent, effective July 10, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus was aggravated by service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 25, 2009.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disabilities, including arthritis, pes planus, calcaneal spurs, and calluses, have been rated as 30 percent disabling since February 24, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and verification of stressor events.,Additional clarification is needed regarding whether the Veteran has a current diagnosis of pes planus and if it is related to his active-duty service. The AOJ will attempt to verify the Veteran's reported in-service foot pain and seek out any relevant medical records.,The AOJ must determine whether the Veteran has a current diagnosis of shin splints, and if so, whether they are related to his active-duty service. Verification is needed for the stressor event witnessed by the Veteran at Camp Pendleton.,The AOJ will need to clarify whether the Veteran has left elbow lateral epicondylitis and determine its relationship to his active-duty service. The AOJ must also obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder, including any potential superimposed condition on a personality disorder.,For the right knee disability claims, additional development is needed as the examiner did not provide range of motion measurements in non-weight-bearing and provided no explanation for why these could not be performed. The AOJ will need to obtain an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pes planus was aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disorder, right heel spur, and bilateral foot disorder (including plantar fasciitis), finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not incurred during his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus with valgus deformity, left hip degeneration, right hip arthritis, low back condition, and right knee condition. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for various service-connected conditions as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and denied service connection for umbilical and hiatal hernias. Bilateral pes planus is found to have been aggravated by active duty, while the Veteran's current umbilical and hiatal hernias are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding it related to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus. However, there is no evidence of calcaneal spurs in the record.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral foot disability and remanded the issue of reducing his rating for migraines. The reduction in the migraines' rating was found to be improper due to lack of improvement in functional capacity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and an examination.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and other specified anxiety disorders.,Service connection is denied for bilateral pes planus (flat foot), left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right foot disabilities due to missing private treatment records. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain these records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, left foot pes planus, and right foot pes planus due to additional evidence received after a previous SSOC.