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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back and neck disabilities, bilateral pes planus, right shoulder disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity numbness, and left upper extremity numbness are related to service. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of opinion regarding whether the Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus permanently worsened during his period of active service and if such worsening was beyond the natural progression of the disease. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on these matters.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his neck and back conditions, diabetes, coronary artery disease, and diabetic neuropathy, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral flat feet, right hip condition, left hip condition, and right knee condition as secondary to his claimed bilateral flat feet. The decision found no current disability related to these conditions during or after service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left foot disability due to lack of evidence of a diagnosed condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for left stress fracture tibia, allergic rhinitis, and left foot pes planus due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal in its entirety.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a back condition and plantar fasciitis as secondary to her service-connected bilateral pes planus are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,An examination is required to determine if the Veteran's lumbosacral strain and plantar fasciitis are proximately due to or caused by her service-connected bilateral pes planus, and whether any aggravation of these conditions can be attributed to the service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the April 3, 2023 rating decision was the initial decision on his claim for service connection for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The Appellant is not eligible for attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in this decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, and a higher rating is denied.,Service connection has been granted for left knee, neck, and low back disabilities based on in-service injury.,Service connection has been granted for eye condition (cataracts), right foot disability, skin rash, and obstructive sleep apnea based on in-service injury and competent lay statements.,The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, and a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for their cervical spine, left foot, and right lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities were denied. The Board found that the current assigned ratings adequately reflected the severity of the disabilities.

The Veteran has been unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities since December 21, 2013. The Board grants TDIU from December 21, 2013 to July 26, 2018.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service records are incomplete and remands for further efforts to obtain these records. The issues of service connection remain on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis and right shoulder glenohumeral joint osteoarthropathy status post rotator cuff repair due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis, right foot plantar fasciitis, and migraine headaches due to inadequate medical opinions and procedural errors.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disability, cervical spine disability, and right knee disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions were not established until after separation from active service.,Service connection was also denied for migraines and renal colic.

The appeal of the increased disability rating for PTSD has been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal. The claims for compensable ratings and service connection have been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for insomnia was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,Service connection was granted for a right foot disability, separate from his service-connected triple arthrodesis. The Board found an additional right foot disability related to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various foot and hip disabilities, as well as a psychiatric disability. The appeal for service connection for athlete's foot was withdrawn by the Veteran at his hearing.

The Board has denied service connection for fibromyalgia, low back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with obtaining VA Behavioral Health Autopsy Program (BHAP) records and obtaining an adequate medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death. The appellant contends that the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including hydrocodone prescribed for COPD, contributed to his suicide.