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

The Board has remanded several issues related to the appellant's service connection claims due to insufficient evidence. The initial rating for tinnitus remains denied, and the left elbow contusion is rated as noncompensable. Right wrist sprain also remains denied. Service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, left knee tendonitis, and lumbosacral strain are remanded.

The appeal of the proposal to reduce the rating for service-connected tinea pedis is dismissed. The appeal of entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding that there is not an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right ankle strain and bilateral plantar fasciitis were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, right hip disability, right foot disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including evaluations for various disabilities and service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS, right ankle disability, right hand scar, left foot plantar fasciitis, bilateral pes planus, and skin disability (xerosis) have all been granted. The issues of service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis, bilateral pes planus, and skin disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors in not obtaining opinions on whether his current disabilities are related to his service-connected right knee disability, and for a comprehensive mental health examination.

The Board has denied service connection for right ankle, left ankle, and cervical spine conditions. The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is remanded for further development.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date prior to December 12, 2016 for service-connected foot disability. The claim for a 30 percent evaluation from December 12, 2016 was granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right foot disorder. The claim will be reconsidered with the addition of a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral foot pain, including plantar fasciitis and pes planus, is granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The appeal regarding sleep apnea has been dismissed as it was previously granted in full.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disability, right knee disability, bilateral foot disability (including pes planus and hallux valgus), and back disability as secondary to a bilateral knee disability due to the lack of evidence meeting the criteria for a current disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral foot disability was denied as the evidence did not show that he had tried both non-surgical and surgical treatment with no relief in either or both feet.

The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral plantar heel spurs with plantar fasciitis was granted at a 30 percent effective from August 30, 2019. A compensable rating of 10 percent was denied prior to that date.

The Veteran's current headache disability began in, and has continued since, active service.,The Veteran's TBI is related to an injury during active service. The Board finds that the September 2020 opinion is inadequate with respect to the question of nexus because the examiner did not address how the Veteran had a resolved TBI and residual symptoms but no diagnosis.,The pre-existing bilateral pes planus was aggravated beyond its natural progression during service, and clear and unmistakable evidence was not shown that the increase in disability is due to the natural progress of the disease.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error where the Veteran's treatment records from a podiatrist were not obtained. The case will be returned for further action.

Service connection is granted for IBS and an undiagnosed illness manifested by chronic fatigue and memory loss.,Service connection is denied for a bilateral ankle disability and a bilateral foot disability except for left foot hallux valgus.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and a TDIU were denied. The appeal seeking an increase in the rating for left foot plantar fasciitis was dismissed.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been withdrawn by the Veteran. The Board has dismissed all issues on appeal.