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

The Board has granted service connection for pes planus and a right foot condition, both secondary to service-connected bilateral tendinopathy of the ankles.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected right foot disabilities is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal to restore his combined disability rating for bilateral pes planus and Morton's neuroma, but dismissed his claim for a higher rating for Morton's neuroma.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine, right and/or left knee, right and/or left ankle, and right and/or left foot disabilities as arthritis, finding that the evidence does not support a link to service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions provided in the July 2022 rating decision are inadequate due to a failure to consider the combat presumption, the Veteran's lay statements, and the RO's favorable findings regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee and foot disabilities. The case is being remanded for new VA examinations and medical opinions to address these issues.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded due to new evidence received within one year of the February 2010 rating decision, which indicates that the Veteran was unable to work due to PTSD.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is not service connected as secondary to his service-connected left foot hammer toe corns, and thus remanded for further action.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding bilateral pes planus, left knee condition, and right knee condition before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has denied service connection for right ankle and foot disabilities, as well as for right and left knee disabilities, migraine headaches, an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, and sleep disturbances. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis is manifested by marked pronation and extreme tenderness of the plantar surfaces, warranting a 50% disability rating.

The Board found that the original grant of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis was not clear and unmistakable error (CUE), thus the severance action was improper, and the appeal is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, specifically regarding examinations for his PTSD, neck disorder, depression and anxiety, and bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his right ankle disability was denied. A 30 percent rating was granted for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis as of November 24, 2021.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to deficiencies in the VA medical opinions obtained during the review process. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions addressing the severity of the appellant's disabilities, including those related to Poland's syndrome, right shoulder strain, foot disabilities, hand disabilities, and back disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service, and the claim for bilateral hearing loss disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, abnormal cholesterol, and low glucose are denied as they do not meet VA criteria for compensation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal disabilities are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's preexisting left foot pes planus, finding that it was aggravated by service and resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus was aggravated by his active duty service, and thus, service connection is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus condition is now rated at 30 percent effective April 2, 2015.,His right foot scar and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity are both rated at 20 percent effective April 2, 2015.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims for further development, including those for pes planus, left wrist cyst disability, gastrointestinal disability (separate from chronic constipation), cardiovascular disability, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), fatigue disability, headache disability, left knee disability, back disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and right wrist disability. The gastrointestinal claim was expanded to include any gastrointestinal disability separate from the already service-connected chronic constipation.