Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claim for service connection for pes planus, plantar fasciitis, gout, and calcaneal spurs as secondary to a service-connected disability due to an inadequate VA examination.

The appeal was dismissed due to the untimeliness of the January 16, 2025 VA Form 10182 regarding claims for service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, and right foot disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral athletes' foot, onychomycosis and tinea nigra, a skin condition other than onychomycosis, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral plantar fasciitis, bilateral restless leg syndrome, breathing issues, left knee pain, lumbar spine disability, migraines, an acquired psychiatric disorder claimed as PTSD with anxiety and insomnia (also claimed as sleep disturbances), and tinnitus.

The Board granted service connection for migraines, hypertension, GERD, cervical strain, and left hip condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder, insomnia disorder, panic disorder, lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for his bilateral foot disability and service connection for a left shoulder condition, as well as remanded the claim for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability in service or within one year of separation and noting an absence of treatment during service and a 16-year gap between service and diagnosis.

The Board granted service connection for allergic rhinitis, bilateral foot disability, lumbar spine disability, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea. The effective date of March 2, 2022, was granted for the award of service connection for rhinitis, and a 70 percent rating was assigned for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder.

The Board granted service connection for a back condition, left foot pes planus, bilateral knee disability, and right hip disability based on the evidence supporting their occurrence during active duty.

The Board remands the claim for a right foot disability, to include plantar fasciitis and neuropathy, as there is no adequate VA medical opinion regarding these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, obstructive sleep apnea (sleep apnea), and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board remanded the claims for further development, including a new VA examination for bilateral pes planus and obtaining outstanding treatment records for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for GAD was denied.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for lumbar strain but denied higher ratings and service connection for other conditions.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right foot pes planus, status-post navicular spur and a separate 20 percent rating for right foot plantar fasciitis. The claim for a higher rating for sinusitis with headaches was denied.

The Board denied increased ratings for multiple service-connected conditions and denied service connection for several additional conditions, including tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, left sciatic radicular pain of the left leg, traumatic brain injury (TBI), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic fatigue syndrome, and a back disorder.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, a bilateral foot disability (other than bilateral plantar fasciitis), to include gout, right hand and left hand disabilities, as well as a thyroid disorder, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea. The Board also granted a TDIU from September 25, 2020.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability, to include plantar fasciitis, as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or event related to the current condition.

The Board granted service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis, finding that the Veteran's condition was incurred in or caused by his active service.

The Board granted service connection for a disorder of the feet, claimed as status post bunionectomy and status post gallbladder removal. The claims for tinnitus, PTSD, and other back, bladder, GERD, hysterectomy, neck, shoulder, hip, knee, and plantar fasciitis disabilities were denied or remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for status post left carpal tunnel release and denied a compensable rating for the left wrist scar, a 10 percent rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities, service connection for PTSD, bilateral shin splints, and migraines, while granting service connection for bilateral pes planus.