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

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral pes cavus with plantar fasciitis.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, left foot hallux valgus, right foot hallux valgus, left foot sesamoiditis, and bilateral metatarsalgia. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible assertions of in-service foot pain and a private medical opinion linking these conditions to her active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disorders, finding that there was no increase in severity during service or clear and unmistakable evidence of aggravation.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his left foot disability has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded and will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service-connected status post left foot bunionectomy may be related to her newly diagnosed plantar fibroma, but more evidence is needed to determine if this relationship exists.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot metatarsalgia, osteochondritis dissecans, plantar fasciitis, and ankle condition as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that led to these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence sufficient to readjudicate the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hip arthritis and lumbar spondylosis has been received. The AOJ should readjudicate these claims in the first instance.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to August 4, 2023, for a 100 percent disability rating for service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis was denied as there was no continual pursuit of the claim after the March 2023 rating decision.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot disability, including arthritis, heel spurs, and hallux rigidus, finding that the Veteran did not have a disease or injury related to his feet during service and that there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology following service discharge.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as he was unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus has been granted service connection. The left knee and left foot disabilities have been remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis from October 19, 2011, to April 2, 2014 is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in the August 2020 VA opinion.

The Veteran's skin rash, variously diagnosed as tinea versicolor versus eczematous dermatitis of upper body, etc., is granted service connection. Service connection for plantar fasciitis is denied.

The Board has determined that the claims file is missing relevant medical evidence, including records from Dr. K.M., and therefore these claims are remanded for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and varicose veins in both lower extremities, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to address secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to dress or undress herself and to keep herself clean without the personal assistance of another person, meeting the criteria for SMC at the rate prescribed in 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, while his claim for a bilateral foot disorder (claimed as plantar fasciitis) is granted. The Board found that the Veteran had functional impairment and an impact on employment due to his foot pain.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on housebound status was denied because he does not meet the criteria for such benefits, as his service-connected disabilities do not independently rate at 60% or more and he is not permanently confined to his dwelling due to these conditions.