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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in the previous VA examinations and opinions. The issues of left knee disability, left foot disability (pes planus), and tinnitus are being reviewed with new evidence and expert opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral pes planus and its relationship to service. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if his current foot condition is related to service, whether it preexisted service, and if so, whether any increase in severity during service was due to natural progression.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, as there is no current diagnosis of such disorder during the appeal period.

The effective date prior to October 1, 2012 for the grant of service connection for migraines and PTSD is denied.,The reduction in disability rating from 30 percent to 10 percent for pes planus with plantar fasciitis was not proper and is void ab initio.

The Veteran's dry-eye syndrome and xerosis cutis of the bilateral feet are granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities.,However, his orthopedic disabilities (claimed as arthritis) and bilateral foot disability (hallux valgus) are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to October 21, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot plantar fasciitis, as well as his requests for increased ratings for GERD with IBS are being remanded due to procedural errors in the adjudication process.,For the initial rating claim of an increase in disability rating for GERD prior to July 28, 2021, the evidence is in relative equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's symptoms meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral foot disability is being remanded.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities are remanded due to errors in obtaining and reviewing VA treatment records prior to August 2019, as well as failing to schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for migraine headaches is granted at a 30 percent level. The claims of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, right leg shin splints, and left leg shin splints are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for acne and a higher effective date for service connection for rhinitis were denied. The claim for PTSD with major depressive disorder and anxious distress was also denied, but the effective date for the assigned 70 percent rating was not changed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was clearly and unmistakably pre-existing his active service, but did not find clear and unmistakable evidence of aggravation during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability as secondary to his service-connected left foot disability, finding no current diagnosis of a right foot disability and insufficient evidence linking it to his service or service-connected condition.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and foot fungus are pending service connection. The Board has remanded the issues due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, finding no new and relevant evidence to support readjudication of the claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis and bronchitis due to procedural errors in the prior rating decisions. The Veteran is required to undergo further examinations to address his exposure history and medical opinions are needed regarding the onset of his conditions during active duty.

The Veteran's cervical neck strain is currently rated at 20 percent, effective May 2021.,The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain was granted a 20 percent rating from January 4, 2021, to September 30, 2020.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active-duty service.,His right and left foot pes planus were noted at entrance into active duty, with the pre-existing conditions being aggravated by service.

The Board granted a separate 20 percent rating for left knee instability and an increased 10 percent rating for the left knee scar, while denying a higher rating for bilateral pes planus.