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

The Board has reopened the previously denied service connection claims for bilateral eye disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and BLE disorder. These issues are now remanded for further development.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a right foot disability, left foot disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, neck disability, sinusitis, and type II diabetes mellitus, to obtain private treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of another person, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of such assistance.

The Veteran's appeal of his claims for bilateral pes planus and sleep apnea has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeals by his attorney prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot disability, including pes planus, degenerative arthritis of the feet, and plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's pre-existing pes planus was aggravated by her military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain an adequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right foot conditions, including his diabetic foot ulcer, hammertoes, hallux abducto valgus, and pes planus. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion addressing these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to December 3, 2019. The Board found that the Veteran had a high rating for his Meniere's disease and sleep apnea but was capable of performing employment duties.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions, including migraines, urinary dysfunction, and knee and spine issues, due to an impermissible concurrent election under 38 C.F.R. § 3.2500(b).

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn regarding a higher rating for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis. The claims of service connection for right and left leg nerve conditions were denied due to lack of objective evidence demonstrating the presence of lower extremity nerve disorders resulting from her lumbar spine disability.

The Board has reinstated the prior ratings for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, cervical strain with IVDS, and pes planus of the right foot due to a lack of evidence showing improvement in symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS, erectile dysfunction, bilateral flat feet, plantar fasciitis, and frost bite are dismissed. The claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded due to the PACT Act requirements.

The Board remands the claims for a lower back condition and bilateral foot conditions, to include plantar fasciitis, as VA examinations are required to obtain a medical opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error and the Veteran's bilateral foot disabilities and right ankle disability may be secondary to her service-connected psychiatric disability and left ankle disability, with obesity as an intermediate step. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral fallen arches (congenital pes planus) and degenerative arthritis of the right and left foot with hallux valgus deformity, finding that these conditions were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's left arm burn is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or aggravation.,Sarcoidosis and respiratory conditions are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for left foot pes planus, right foot pes planus, intervertebral disc syndrome of the cervical spine, and spinal stenosis with degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the lumbar spine were granted effective March 7, 2020. The Board found no earlier effective dates are warranted.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the Board found that his service connection for plantar fasciitis should be remanded due to incomplete records from his National Guard service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral Achilles tendonitis, bilateral pes planus, bilateral metatarsalgia, bilateral hallux valgus, bilateral hallux rigidus, left navicular avulsion fracture, and left great toe degenerative arthritis. The issues of secondary service connection have also been resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back disability, hypertension, right foot disability, and left foot disability due to inadequate etiology opinions. The Veteran is required to provide new VA or private treatment records and undergo a VA examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected conditions do not meet the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.