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

The Board has found new and relevant evidence for the Veteran's claims of left hand sprain, left hip iliopsoas tendinitis, right hip iliopsoas tendinitis, bilateral pes planus, left knee strain, and right knee strain. These issues are being remanded to allow the AOJ to consider them on the merits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal includes issues of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for acute sinusitis and service connection for a bilateral foot disability. These issues are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in prior decisions.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and metatarsalgia are rated at 30 percent. The appeal is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has remanded both the left foot and left knee disability claims due to inadequate examination and medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus is denied, and her initial rating for asthma is granted at a 30 percent level.

The Veteran's right and left hip osteoarthritis have been granted service connection as secondary to his already service-connected lumbar spine disability and pes planus.,Service connection for headaches has been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The AOJ needs to confirm dates of active duty training (ADT) and inactive duty training (IDT) service, obtain financial records from DFAS, and any outstanding service treatment records related to ADT and/or IDT service subsequent to his April 1991 demobilization examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a right shoulder strain with impingement syndrome, left shoulder strain with impingement syndrome, and left foot plantar fasciitis have been granted effective May 15, 2017.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination, including service connection claims for various conditions. The Veteran's hearing loss claim is also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left ear sensorineural hearing loss, as well as the right and left foot disabilities. Service connection was denied for hypertension, respiratory disorder, tooth disorder, and psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided in this case is inadequate and remands the matter for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's left foot conditions are related to his service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, bilateral foot disability, left knee and hip disabilities, right shoulder disability, IBS, and headaches. The reasons provided include lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate medical nexus opinions provided by the VA in July 2020. The Board finds that further examination and opinion are needed to determine if his current disabilities were caused or aggravated by his active-duty service.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for low back disability and left hip disability are dismissed. A 50 percent disability rating is granted for bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus was denied because the new evidence submitted did not relate to the issue of entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's appeal of the initial ratings for unspecified anxiety disorder and bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board finds that the most persuasive evidence does not support a higher rating than 30 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder or noncompensable for bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for migraines, right shoulder disability, left foot disability (pes planus), right foot disability (pes planus), and right knee disability are remanded. The appeal of service connection for sleep apnea is also remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral pes planus and gout, finding no evidence of their onset in service or a link to service. Service connection is also denied for weight loss as there is no current disability.,Service connection for numbness in the left fingers is remanded due to insufficient medical examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected bilateral pes planus and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are being remanded due to a pre-decisional error in the duty to assist.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, specifically whether it is secondary to a service-connected disability or caused by obesity. The examiner must provide opinions on both causation and aggravation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and hallux valgus, right foot due to duty-to-assist errors.