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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various recurrent disabilities of the cervical spine, hands, hips, and feet, all claimed as resulting from herbicide agent exposure during service. The VA examinations conducted were by nurse practitioners rather than medical doctors, which did not comply with the Board's instructions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The appeals will be adjudicated based on the evidence of record, which could include denial of the benefits sought.

The Veteran's bilateral knee and foot disorders were not present during active duty, did not manifest within one year of service, and are not attributable to service.,Bilateral pes planus was identified as a pre-existing disability on entry into active duty, but the condition was not aggravated beyond its natural progression in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral flatfoot condition began during his military service and grants service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for various conditions were denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The decision did not specify a particular effective date.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw his hearing request and the Board may only consider evidence up to 90 days prior to withdrawal.

The Veteran's appeal for an extension of her delimiting date for educational assistance benefits under Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) was denied because the evidence did not show that she had a physical or mental disability preventing her from pursuing education within the original period of eligibility.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral pes planus is denied as the prior final decision was not continuously pursued and the earliest available effective date is November 7, 2021.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis is dismissed.,The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for headaches is dismissed.,The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for sciatica (left lower extremity radiculopathy) is dismissed.,The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for cervical strain is dismissed.,The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for left knee strain is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, hypertension, and sinusitis due to a lack of evidence showing current diagnoses or a link between the conditions and service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete and inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of any right or left foot disability, including bilateral pes planus and right foot plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's claim for service connection is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbosacral strain, and flat foot are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The Board finds the provided examinations insufficient to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of June 22, 2020, for service connection for bilateral flat feet is granted. The effective date will be set to the day following separation from active service.

The Veteran's melanoma of the right foot was granted service connection on a presumptive basis as it manifested within one year of his separation from service. The issues of service connection for headaches and bilateral foot disability are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by his service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain, bilateral plantar fasciitis with calcaneal spurs, chronic fatigue syndrome, and other conditions. As such, the claim for service connection for OSA is granted.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is granted as secondary to his service-connected patellofemoral syndrome, right knee with degenerative changes and bilateral plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis with chronic sinusitis is granted at a 30% evaluation effective February 5, 2020.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, OSA, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right foot disability, and left foot disability claims are denied.

Your service connection for bilateral pes planus to include bilateral plantar fasciitis has been granted in a July 2024 rating decision. The appeal is dismissed as the benefit was awarded.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis were restored to a 50% rating, effective February 5, 2022. Increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral and sciatic nerves) and left knee limitation of extension were granted. Effective dates of May 25, 2021, were assigned for the increased ratings.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal by his authorized representative.