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

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and service connection claims have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The Board finds that the December 2006 rating decision never became final, and entitlement to an effective date of March 2, 2005, was established.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied as there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current diagnosis to service or within one year of separation. The Board finds that the positive evidence of record consists solely of the Veteran's lay belief in a causal link between service and his subsequent development of diabetes mellitus, which was not supported by medical records.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus and bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted. The Board finds that the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria for a 10 percent rating under DC 5276.

The Board has denied service connection for right hand pain and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's left foot, right foot (other than pes planus), and low back disabilities were not caused by or incurred in service.,The Veteran's right hip condition was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for pes planus from August 22, 2019, to March 15, 2021, is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show more nearly approximate the symptoms associated with a 50 percent rating until March 15, 2021.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed as his claim for service connection for a respiratory disability has been granted. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral flat feet, tinnitus, and skin rash are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations. The issues of service connection for psychiatric disability, urinary tract disability, increased rating for back disability, and right foot plantar fasciitis are pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist and knee disabilities due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran is seeking service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of both wrists and knee disabilities, including pes planus and degenerative joint disease.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus due to a duty to assist error in obtaining inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right leg disabilities, bilateral foot disability, left toe disability, and right toe disability. The claim for service connection for a right knee disability is also remanded.,Service connection was not granted as there is no current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted a rating of 40 percent, and her bilateral pes planus and right foot conditions are also granted service connection. The Veteran's radiculopathy and bunionectomy with osteotomy, left foot disabilities have been denied initial increased ratings.

The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional error in VA's duty to assist, specifically regarding the adequacy of the March 2020 VA examination report and the need for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate nexus opinion linking the Veteran's left foot disability, including arch pain and bunions, to her service. The Veteran is requested to provide additional medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for headaches due to new evidence submitted after the June 2017 denial. The issues of service connection for a low back disability and bilateral pes planus have been dismissed as they were not properly addressed in the appeal process.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date prior to November 14, 2017, for the grant of service connection for bilateral pes planus. The decision found that there was no clear and unmistakable error in any final rating decisions during the appeal period.

Service connection for asthma is granted based on presumed exposure to fine particulate matter during service in Kuwait. A 70 percent rating, but no higher, is granted for PTSD. A 30 percent rating, but no higher, is granted for bilateral plantar fasciitis.,The Veteran's PTSD symptoms include depression, anxiety, and paranoia, leading to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus has been granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The case is remanded for further consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and trochanteric pain syndrome, right hip were denied due to the failure to perfect her appeal in the Legacy system. The effective date of July 30, 2020 is established as the earliest possible date based on the receipt of a supplemental claim application under the Appeals Modernization Act.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and etiology of his conditions.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for allergic rhinitis is dismissed. The issue of service connection for plantar fasciitis is remanded.