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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for essential tremors, left and right hand cubital tunnel syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and GERD, Barrett's Esophagus with Irritable Bowel Syndrome due to inconsistencies in previous VA examinations and the need for further clarification of his symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to the Veteran's right knee disability with obesity. The left foot pes planus, right foot pes planus, and left knee disability claims are remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's bilateral posterior calcaneus tiny plantar bone spurs have been granted a 20 percent disability rating effective December 21, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral pes planus to include plantar fasciitis was denied, and the effective date is set at December 31, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right foot disabilities due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ must obtain medical opinions regarding the current status of these conditions, including their relationship to service-connected calluses.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, radiculopathy affecting both lower extremities, bilateral plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, pseudo folliculitis, ankle disorders, shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, jock itch, adjustment disorder with anxiety, acid reflux, athlete's foot and toenail fungus, and epiphora. The Board found no current diagnoses for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and bilateral hallux valgus are granted service connection. The Veteran's pes planus claim is remanded due to outstanding medical records.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for service connection of anxiety, tinnitus, and a bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that it was incurred in active duty.,For her bilateral pes planus, with left foot hallux valgus and bilateral plantar fasciitis, a rating of 40 percent is granted. The maximum schedular evaluation available under DC 5276 is assigned.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in calculating overpayment of attorney fees and issues related to service connection. The Veteran's representative requested a hearing, but no action will be taken until after this request is completed.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, to include bilateral plantar fasciitis and bilateral metatarsalgia, is currently rated as 30 percent disabling. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher evaluation are not met during the period on appeal. The claim of entitlement to TDIU has been raised by the record but requires referral to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed as she withdrew her appeals for the issues of separate ratings and increased ratings. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is granted an initial rating of 30 percent, effective October 22, 2021.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of June 1, 2010 for the Veteran's entitlement to TDIU on an extra-schedular basis based on the evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment as of that date.

The Board has granted readjudication of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disability, but has remanded both the left foot and back condition claims due to procedural errors. The decision on the left foot disability is granted as new evidence was received.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee condition as secondary to his service-connected left knee tendonitis, patellofemoral pain syndrome and chondromalacia patella with instability, and left ankle achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis.

The appeals for service connection and rating have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims at his hearing.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ will obtain an addendum medical opinion from the May 2023 VA examiner regarding the combined impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to perform functions related to employment.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for left foot strain was improper, and therefore grants the appeal.

Service connection granted for bilateral pes planus and left ring finger disability.,Compensable rating denied for hypertension, but increased rating granted for painful scar of the left ring finger.

The Board has found that the AOJ did not substantially comply with its previous instructions and remanded the claims again. The new opinions are also inadequate, as they do not adequately address the Veteran's lay statements about his symptoms in service.