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

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a right elbow and right foot disability due to incomplete development of his treatment records, including potential VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher disability rating for PTSD and an earlier effective date for bilateral plantar fasciitis were denied because the appeals were not filed within one year of the February 26, 2020, rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating prior to June 13, 2019. The Board finds insufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that he was unemployable solely because of his service-connected disabilities during this period.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine and service connection for plantar fasciitis, and these issues have been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric condition, including posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder with alcohol and drug abuse. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered sufficient to meet the requirement of a present disability under McLendon v. Nicholson, but Dr. D.W.'s opinion is insufficient for adjudicatory purposes.

The Veteran's appeal of a denied increased rating for his service-connected left heel spur was dismissed due to untimeliness of the Notice of Disagreement (NOD).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss and foot/knee disabilities, were denied as there was no current disability or evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left foot disability. The Veteran's service treatment records show complaints and corn removal surgery, but the August 2023 VA examiner did not consider this evidence in their opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under DC 5276.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis have been previously decided in a final August 2020 Board decision. The issue is now dismissed as it has already been resolved.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims of entitlement to service connection for left wrist scar and flat feet are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, cervical strain with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), left ankle sprain, right ankle sprain, and left upper extremity radiculopathy have all been denied. The highest schedular rating has already been assigned for each condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and bilateral hallux valgus, finding that these conditions were incurred during the Veteran's active military service.,The Veteran was diagnosed with bilateral pes planus and bilateral hallux valgus while on active duty, which continued to be a current disability at the time of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot pain, including plantar fasciitis and pes planus. The VA examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was aggravated during service and if his bilateral plantar fasciitis had its onset or was caused by his bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis and a right hip disability due to incomplete medical opinions and potential missing private treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the physical loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands or feet, and therefore, he does not qualify for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance or adaptive equipment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for his left foot condition, both on a direct and secondary basis to his right foot disability. The decision also notes that the Veteran's claim of service connection for his right foot disability is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the failure to schedule VA examinations for his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran has multiple service-connected conditions, and a full examination is needed to assess their impact on employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits, finding that there was no indication in the record of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to January 5, 2021.