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

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that his pre-existing condition worsened during military service and resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, but his claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis, psychiatric disability, lumbago, erectile dysfunction, URI, and headaches are denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and a higher rating for bilateral pes planus was denied. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date for service connection is March 21, 2013, when VA received the Veteran's VA Form 21-526EZ. For the increased rating claim, the Board determined that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher rating as they were consistent with the criteria for a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in multiple lower extremity disabilities have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal by his representative.

The reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for his service-connected right foot disability from 20 to 10 percent was improper, and a 20 percent rating is restored as of September 28, 2021.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right foot disability remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the VA examiner's incorrect attribution of his disabilities to post-service employment, rather than service. New examinations are required to determine if his disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral foot disability, bilateral ankle disability, headaches, and sinusitis due to inadequate medical opinions in the initial decision.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of January 11, 2021 for the grant of service connection for various disabilities including an acquired psychiatric disorder and multiple musculoskeletal and neurological conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is asymptomatic and rated as noncompensable. His right foot plantar fasciitis has resolved, so he does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under DC 5269. The Board finds no other basis to grant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea and plantar fasciitis with collapsed arches were dismissed because the Veteran did not timely file a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) or new and material evidence within one year after notification of the October 2016 rating decision. The appeal for radiculopathy of the left extremity was remanded.

The Board has found that service connection is not established for the Veteran's claimed bilateral flatfeet and plantar fasciitis, but has remanded the claim for a low back disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability and an earlier effective date for TDIU prior to November 9, 2018. The Board found no evidence of chronic foot problems during or within one year after service, and there was insufficient medical nexus to establish service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, cervical spine disorder, headaches, and multiple musculoskeletal disorders have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied due to a lack of medical diagnosis based on DSM-V criteria.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety and depression) was also denied as there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that his pre-existing condition was not aggravated by active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn, and the Board has dismissed these issues due to withdrawal. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus began during her military service and is not related to a pre-existing condition. Therefore, service connection for this disability is granted.

The Board has determined that there are duty to assist errors and the Veteran's claims for service connection related to his bilateral foot and knee disabilities need further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis is denied as the evidence does not show that he has no relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board has found that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, plantar fascitis, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, chronic bronchitis, left knee strain, right knee strain, lumbosacral strain, pes planus, or leg length discrepancy.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded to allow for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.