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

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, effective October 1, 2019.

The Board has remanded all previously denied claims for service connection due to the submission of new and relevant evidence, except for the claim for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's right and left foot disabilities are being examined again as there may be a link to his in-service activities. The examiner must also consider whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to or aggravated by service-connected PTSD or due to toxic exposure risk activity (TERA).

The Veteran's left foot disability was rated noncompensably disabling prior to January 18, 2023. The VA examiner found no pain or functional limitation in the left foot at that time.,From January 18, 2023, the Veteran's right knee fracture disability was productive of painful motion flexion from zero to 130 degrees, without ankylosis or the functional equivalent thereof.

The Board has decided to remand the issues of service connection for cervical spine, bilateral knee, left foot, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions and outstanding records.

The Veteran's right foot disability, including pes planus, is granted as service-connected. The issues of hypertension secondary to migraine cephalgia and the reopening of a claim for right knee torn ACL are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his bilateral plantar callosities is being remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The Board requires additional medical examinations to assess the severity of the condition, including any limitations on motion and functional impairment.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding initial ratings and effective dates for right foot pes planus and arthritis, as these decisions were implemented by a February 2023 rating decision that granted compensable 10 percent ratings with an effective date of May 25, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, diabetes mellitus II, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability have been denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for allergic rhinitis/sinusitis has been denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claims for hypertension and sleep apnea have been denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of PTSD, bilateral pes planus, and status post right bunionectomy due to incomplete medical records and a need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbosacral strain, nerve pain in both lower extremities, and bilateral foot disability (plantar fasciitis) due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran is required to undergo new examinations and obtain medical opinions regarding his conditions.

The Board has found that the AOJ did not obtain an addendum medical opinion to correct errors in the VA examiner's initial opinion, and therefore remands the case for such a review.

The Board denied service connection for a finger condition, gastrointestinal condition, skin condition, residuals of left shin surgery, and pes planus of the right foot. The evidence did not show current diagnoses or link to service.,There are no available service treatment records, and the Veteran's assertions were deemed insufficient to establish a current diagnosis.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal concerning several service connection and rating issues, including for tension headaches, bilateral pes planus, plantar fasciitis, arthritis, cervical spine strain with degenerative disc disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, left ankle fracture, right ankle fracture, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis and intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or related to his service-connected disabilities. The appellant is denied DIC benefits, survivors pension benefits, and accrued benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for flat feet due to a duty to assist error in obtaining missing private treatment records from Columbus Foot & Ankle. The Veteran is asked to provide releases for any relevant records and to identify other care providers who may have additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected left and right upper extremity carpel tunnel syndrome have resulted in effective loss of use in both hands, which meets the criteria for financial assistance with an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for psychiatric disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, gastrointestinal disability, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral pes planus and a skin disability due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is being examined for aggravation by combat boots, while his skin disability needs an opinion on its cause.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to the lack of a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for patellofemoral pain of the right knee and right knee arthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome were also denied as there is no evidence showing that his conditions are related to service or secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for back disability and GERD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability and OSA, respectively. Service connection for plantar fasciitis is denied due to lack of current diagnosis.,The Veteran's low back pain developed secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. His GERD symptoms are linked to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and bronchial asthma.