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

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to readjudicate his claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disability and bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for sinusitis and bilateral pes planus were dismissed due to the implementation of a prior Board decision. The appeal regarding SMC at the housebound rate was also dismissed as there is no evidence of substantial confinement or institutionalization.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet and lower back conditions due to potential errors in the initial processing of his claim documents, including a possible loss or destruction of his service treatment records. The case is being returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right foot disability, as it is unclear whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his service or if they were caused by his service-connected low back disability. The VA will need to obtain verification of the nature and dates of the Veteran's active duty and provide an addendum medical opinion considering obesity as an intermediate step.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his bilateral foot disorder and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination of his feet.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis, right foot plantar fasciitis, and allergic rhinitis due to duty to assist errors.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete verification of his National Guard service and insufficient medical opinions. The AOJ will obtain additional evidence and conduct further examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of her right and left knee disabilities, back disability, and feet disability are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The VA is instructed to obtain relevant treatment records from private providers and provide the Veteran with a retrospective medical examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the aforementioned issues, leading to their dismissal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pes planus (flatfoot) may be related to his service as a paratrooper, but further evidence is needed to clarify whether it was aggravated by service or preexisted. The case is being remanded for a VA medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, anxiety, and PTSD), plantar fasciitis left lower extremity, plantar fasciitis right lower extremity, and left shoulder disability due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has withdrawn the appeals for left and right foot disabilities, urinary incontinence as secondary to service-connected disease or injury, and both hand disabilities. The issues of left and right hand disabilities are remanded due to lack of proper medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and right foot capsulitis tendonitis due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran's in-service complaints of bilateral foot pain are related to her current conditions, but further examination is needed to determine if these conditions were incurred during service.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, claimed as bilateral pes planus, for additional development and a new VA medical opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for insomnia, neck disability, plantar fasciitis, right ankle disability, sciatica of the right lower extremity, and sciatica of the left lower extremity as there is no evidence of current disabilities related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for bilateral pes planus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's preexisting condition was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and pes planus, make it impossible for him to maintain substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring an examination and additional opinions regarding the Veteran's left foot disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left foot plantar facia with calcaneal spur, finding that it was proximately caused by his bilateral knee and left ankle disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for left ankle pain, right ankle pain, and bilateral foot plantar fasciitis with pes planus and degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to his time in service.