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

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right hallux valgus, left hallux valgus, right pes planus with metatarsalgia, left pes planus with metatarsalgia, right foot hammer toes disability, and left foot hammer toes disability. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible lay accounts of symptoms in service and ongoing pain.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of pes planus, finding that the Veteran's May 1995 claim did not raise a claim for this condition and thus no prior pending claim existed. The appeal was denied as there is not an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, plantar fasciitis, lumbosacral strain, left knee strain, and right knee strain due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiners' opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left hip osteoarthritis and left knee status post total replacement, are now rated as 60 percent disabling when combined with other conditions. Effective January 30, 2023, the Veteran is granted special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches has been granted, with a 10% initial rating effective April 12, 2021. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, as he has completed at least four years of college and worked as a college professor for over 30 years. The Board finds that the combined effect of his service-connected conditions does not preclude him from participating in a substantially gainful occupation.

The appeal for service connection for a right foot disability is dismissed due to an administrative error in accepting the Veteran's Notice of Disagreement on the October 2021 rating decision.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus should be remanded due to an inadequate medical opinion and need for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for migraines with nausea was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 70 percent for PTSD, major depressive disorder and SUD (alcohol, cannabis, amphetamines) was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 20 percent for metatarsalgia and plantar fasciitis of the left foot was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and pes planus of both feet. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran had these conditions during her active service or at any time since then.,For plantar fasciitis of the left foot, the Board found no current disability meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's nerve condition, pes planus, metatarsalgia, hallux valgus, and arthritis of the bilateral feet are granted. The back condition and valvular heart disease secondary to service-connected hypertension are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depression and anxiety disorder, was found to be causally linked to his service-connected traumatic brain injury. His tinnitus was also granted based on credible reports of in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus are rated at 10 percent, but the Board found no evidence to support a higher rating due to lack of relief from non-surgical treatment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right hip replacement, a right foot disability (including right toe gout and arthritis), left wrist carpal tunnel, and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is presumed exposed to burn pits during his Southwest Asia service.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for hypertension as a matter of law, denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and remanded claims for service connection for various conditions including a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, vertigo, sleep apnea, skin cancer, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes cavus and bilateral plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's headaches are considered in equipoise with service connection, while his erectile dysfunction is also considered in equipoise.,Service connection was granted for the Veteran's bilateral pes cavus and bilateral plantar fasciitis based on direct evidence showing these conditions were incurred during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus was aggravated by service and is related to the aggravation, thus granting service connection for bilateral pes planus on an aggravation basis.

The Board found that severing service connection for bilateral pes planus was proper because the primary disability, left ankle painful motion (due to shin splints), had been severed. Therefore, service connection for the secondary disability, bilateral pes planus, is not warranted.

The appeal for service connection and increased evaluation has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, hemifacial spasm right side, and lower back condition and pain as there is no current evidence of these conditions.