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

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral pes planus based on aggravation of a pre-existing disability, but only subject to the laws and regulations governing the payment of monetary benefits.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding your claims of service connection for various conditions including an acquired psychiatric disability, diabetes mellitus, Type II, irritable bowel syndrome, low vision, sinusitis (claimed as unspecified sinus condition), dry and irritable eyes, tinnitus, a left shoulder disability, chronic left hip pain, and a bilateral foot disability. The appeals are dismissed due to the improper concurrent election of review options.

The Board has waived the untimeliness of the March 2020 substantive appeal and granted service connection for frostbite of the bilateral hands, feet, and hearing loss. The right foot disability claim is pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a foot condition is remanded due to duty to assist error and the need for an adequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to errors in duty to assist, and for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for psychiatric disability, bilateral foot disability, and kidney disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional VA examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and bilateral pes planus conditions prior to December 22, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, bilateral foot plantar fasciitis (claimed as bilateral foot condition), bilateral shin splints, right leg shin splints, and left leg shin splints due to pre-decisional errors in obtaining clinical records and VA medical opinions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder, GERD, IBS, rhinitis, sinusitis, dry skin/scars, a bilateral breast condition, pulled groin, vaginitis, irregular menstruation, cervical spine condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, lower extremity nerve damage, ankle strain or Achilles conditions, and foot plantar fasciitis. The effective date for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder is denied prior to December 1, 2021.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is etiologically related to service and is secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder, lumbosacral strain, bilateral knee degenerative joint disease patellofemoral syndrome, right shoulder sprain, plantar fascitis, pes planus, and hallux valgus with degenerative changes.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided in January 2020 was inadequate and remanded for a new examination. The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is being remanded to determine if it is related to service, including her left foot injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have not been readjudicated due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder including generalized anxiety disorder with persistent depressive disorder and phobic anxiety disorder, and sleep apnea are remanded as there is a duty to obtain additional medical opinions that address the onset and relationship of these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus and low back disability are related to service, but his right ankle condition is not. The case is being remanded for further development.,Service connection for a low back disability is being remanded due to potential pre-service existence of the condition and possible aggravation by a service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral syndrome and degenerative disease, right knee patellofemoral syndrome and degenerative disease, and bilateral pes planus. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error regarding the Veteran's preexisting pes planus and its aggravation by active duty service. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing conditions were aggravated by active service.

The Board has denied service connection for various hand and knee disabilities, as well as a cervical spine disability. The evidence does not support the Veteran's claims of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as their VA Form 10182s were not timely filed, and good cause for extension of the filing period was not shown.

The Board has granted effective dates of January 1, 2020, for the awards of service connection for left plantar fasciitis and ethmoid sinusitis. The Veteran's claims were filed within one year of his discharge from active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and service connection were denied. The initial evaluation for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis was denied, as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent. Service connection for dental problems was also denied due to lack of qualifying conditions. Appeals for PTSD and back disability were dismissed because they were pending in the Legacy system at the time of the July 2021 VA Form 10182.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities remain at 20 percent each. Other conditions have been addressed or denied.