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

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and SMC have been remanded by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The hearing loss claim is denied as not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating prior to April 9, 2021. Service connection for ED secondary to major depressive disorder has also been remanded.

The Veteran's left shoulder condition claim is dismissed as the AOJ did not readjudicate it.,The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of sciatica, right carpal tunnel syndrome, or left carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's claimed disabilities, including left shoulder, right shoulder, right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and prostate cancer, were not incurred or aggravated during service. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected feet disabilities are inextricably intertwined and requires further examination to clarify the current diagnoses and their impact on rating.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of various conditions as they have already been granted in a previous rating decision.

The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis is currently rated at 10 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's left wrist sprain and left shoulder strain are both rated at 20 percent. The evidence does not support an increase in these ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral pes planus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. Additional VA opinions are required to address whether these conditions are related to service or secondary to prescribed medications.

The Veteran's appeal for a certificate of eligibility for the purposes of a VA loan guaranty was dismissed because she has already been issued such a certificate due to her service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings for service-connected plantar fasciitis and TMJ were dismissed because he did not timely file a VA Form 10182 as to the August 2021 rating decision, and good cause was not shown.

The Board has determined that the discontinuance of SMC at the housebound rate was improper and has revised the effective date to October 1, 2022. The Veteran's entitlement to SMC benefits is now correct as of this date.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral pes planus was dismissed because the VA Form 10182, submitted to appeal the decision, was received more than one year after the February 2019 rating decision and no good cause was shown.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The denial of service connection for left ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, right ankle disability, left hand disability, and neck disability remains unchanged. The Board has remanded the issues regarding bilateral foot disability and right ankle disability due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus was aggravated by his service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's memory loss and lack of concentration are not related to service, as there is no evidence of an in-service event or continuous symptomatology since service.,There is no evidence linking the Veteran's GERD with nausea to his active duty service.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, but the issue of service connection for bilateral pes planus has been remanded due to a duty-to-assist error and the need for an adequate VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral pes planus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, a low back condition, and right and left knee conditions have been granted.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection of bilateral pes planus, assigning it from November 1, 2019. The decision states that no evidence was received prior to November 1, 2019, that would support a claim for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis is denied, while a remand is ordered to obtain VA treatment records and schedule the Veteran for a VA psychiatric examination regarding his service-connected chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent her from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment during the period of appeal.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions were denied. The claim for migraines was not granted, and the remaining claims were readjudicated but ultimately denied.