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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left foot plantar fasciitis, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right foot plantar fasciitis were denied. The Board found that new and relevant evidence had not been received to warrant readjudication of these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of his right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected pes planus, finding that there is at least a balance of evidence in favor of the Veteran and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back, vision, and bilateral knee disabilities have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis disabilities has been denied.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for adjustment disorder, chronic with mixed anxiety and depressed mood (also claimed as acquired psychiatric condition) and bilateral pes planus due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is granted with a 30 percent rating for the entire period on appeal. The Board has remanded several other issues including service connection for left hip strain, a higher rating for lumbar spine disability, and separate ratings for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining proper authorizations for private treatment records and providing a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's wrist disability. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, ruptured eardrum, back disability, right knee disability, gout and/or pseudogout/CPPD, left foot disability, osteophytosis of the thumb/metacarpal surgery, wrist disability, eye/vision disability, and obstructive sleep apnea are also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a left or right diabetic foot disability and has not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim. The claims for service connection for bilateral diabetic foot disabilities are denied. The claim for service connection for gout is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions addressing the December 2023 VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated 10 percent disabling prior to October 30, 2023, and 50 percent disabling thereafter. The Veteran's right eye conjunctival surface irregularity and bilateral pingueculae are currently rated noncompensable.,The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for right eye conjunctival surface irregularity and bilateral pingueculae prior to December 14, 2023; and in excess of 10 percent, thereafter.

The Veteran's left foot disability and obstructive sleep apnea are related to his active duty service in the U.S. Army, while the right foot disability and TMJD have been remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection of erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to his service-connected other specified depressive disorder. The case is now pending further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle and left foot disabilities, as secondary to service-connected thoracolumbar scoliosis. The VA is required to secure adequate medical opinions on the etiologies of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right lower extremity sciatica, but has remanded the claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis and bilateral hip condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, along with bilateral flat feet with plantar fasciitis and calcaneal spur, caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn caused his Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral flat feet (pes planus) as there was no evidence of aggravation during military service, and the current pes planus is considered to have existed prior to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or a causal relationship to service.,Specifically, the Board found that hyperlipidemia is not considered a disability for VA purposes and pre-diabetes does not constitute a diagnosed disability. Obesity was also deemed not a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, flat feet, tinnitus, and plantar fasciitis have been denied. The Board found no current disabilities of these conditions at the time of filing or during the pendency of the claim.,Service connection has also not been granted for rhinitis, migraine headaches, and OSA (secondary to PTSD). These claims are remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding their onset in service.

The Board has dismissed all the Veteran's claims as his death occurred during the pendency of these appeals.

The Veteran's left foot pes planus with plantar fasciitis is granted at a 30% evaluation, effective from July 17, 2019. The Veteran's surgical repair of the left lateral ankle ligament tear is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted as service-connected. The issues of increased ratings for the right elbow, back, left knee, and skin disabilities are remanded.