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

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased ratings and denied service connection for right foot pes planus, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease stage 3.

The Board dismissed all claims for service connection, including those for PTSD, head injury, left hand strain, left knee strain, lumbosacral strain, left thumb fracture, bilateral pes planus, plantar fasciitis, right hand strain, and right knee strain. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral pes planus with left foot degenerative arthritis, and left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board denied a compensable rating for ingrown toenails, right 5th toe dermatophytosis and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, granted a 20 percent rating for radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity effective October 31, 2021, and denied compensable ratings for scars of the left forearm and ankle as well as an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral arm and foot disabilities due to a failure by the RO to provide adequate notice of scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disabilities due to incomplete development and lack of consideration of all relevant evidence. The Veteran is not presumed to have had a pre-existing condition, but may still be entitled to service connection if there was an increase in severity during service or aggravation beyond natural progression.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is currently rated at the highest possible schedular rating under applicable VA law and regulation.,The Veteran's painful scar, right fifth toe, is currently evaluated at a 0 percent disability rating. The Board has determined that an examination to evaluate this condition is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral foot disorder and obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The issues include bilateral pes planus with arthritis, right ankle instability, left ankle instability, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the cases for adjudication of the surviving spouse's eligibility to substitute in her husband's claims of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus prior to January 14, 2019 has been withdrawn by the appellant. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his persistent depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder, as well as his lumbar spine disability and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, render him unemployable. The Board has resolved all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, granting TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for bilateral pes planus due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's condition existed prior to service and if it was aggravated by service. The Veteran is required to be provided with a VA examination to address these issues.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including an acquired psychiatric disorder, residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), headaches, bilateral eye refractive error, cervical spine disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, bilateral hip/thigh disorder, bilateral upper and lower extremity nerve damage, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and dry skin disorder. The denial is based on the lack of diagnosed conditions in service or recent to the filing of the claim.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis. Service connection for PTSD, adjustment disorder with anxious mood and/or depressed mood, and any other mental disorders are denied due to lack of a formal DSM-5 diagnosis during the pendency of the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records. The issues of TBI, psychiatric disability, sleep impairment, headache, vestibular disorder, shoulder disabilities, knee, ankle, foot, and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing disability for VA compensation purposes.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left hand and right hand disabilities are denied as there is no current diagnosis of these disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 15, 2022 for a 50 percent rating for bilateral pes planus was denied as there was no factually ascertainable increase in disability within the year prior to the filing of the claim and no intent to file form received prior to that date.