Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to the Veteran's assertion that proper notice was not provided prior to her examinations scheduled in connection with the instant claims. The claims are being remanded to ensure such examinations are conducted and a VA examination is conducted to determine the nature and etiology of any current disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities, particularly those related to Reserve service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a right foot disability.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left and right foot disabilities due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are now pending before the RO.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis as secondary to service-connected pes planus, but denied service connection for Achilles tendonitis and sinus tarsitis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete evidence. The issues include prolapsed colon, epidural site pain, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and somatization disorder), right leg radiculopathy, left leg radiculopathy, and bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable.,Initial compensable ratings are granted for left and right ankle disabilities, effective prior to January 9, 2023.,A 10 percent evaluation is granted for metatarsalgia and status-post right foot navicular fracture.,Initial 30 percent evaluations are granted for left and right knee disabilities (limitation of flexion).,GERD with hiatal hernia and chronic diarrhea warrant a 30 percent evaluation.,Service connection for TBI is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left foot disability, finding that there was no evidence of such condition during his active duty and concluding that any current left foot disability is not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for payment under the CHAMPVA program for custom shoe inserts provided to his spouse, finding that these devices are specifically excluded from coverage.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for right knee disability, left knee patellar chondromalacia, bilateral foot disability, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea due to conflicting medical opinions and incomplete records.,Pending further clarification from medical experts, these claims will be returned to the RO for consideration.

Your right foot disability has been granted service connection in a September 2023 rating decision, and the appeal is dismissed as there are no longer any unresolved issues.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability with radiculopathy of the lower extremities as secondary to service-connected right knee strain with arthritis, residuals of right knee meniscal tear. The decision also remanded issues regarding left knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral pes planus with degenerative changes status/post left fifth metatarsal fracture with bone spurs is denied as the evidence does not show marked inward displacement or severe spasms of the Achilles tendon on manipulation, which are required for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, bilateral plantar fasciitis, migraine headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea have been reopened. The appeals are granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.,Secondary service connection is established for migraine headaches and obstructive sleep apnea due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hallux valgus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and back conditions, precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to July 9, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for sleep apnea is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection granted for major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks and chronic headaches. The Board finds in favor of the Veteran due to positive evidence outweighing negative evidence.,Right wrist disability service connection granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service and post-service treatment records supporting this claim.,Bilateral knee conditions and low back disability service connection remanded as additional evidence is needed.,Bilateral foot disability service connection granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for sinusitis has been granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a right foot disability has been remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased disability ratings in several cases, including sleep apnea, bilateral plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, hemorrhoids, major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and headaches. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral foot conditions was granted with an effective date of May 4, 1995.,A 10 percent rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae was granted with an effective date of June 21, 1996.,An initial 30 percent rating for plantar fasciitis and first metatarsophalangeal joint arthritis of both feet was granted with an effective date of August 19, 2019.