Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left plantar fasciitis with calcaneal spur due to inadequate medical examination and opinion in August 2021.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left elbow disability, and unspecified trauma-and stressor-related disorder. The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral vision disability was denied due to lack of evidence of a current disability or persistent symptoms during the pendency of the claim. Service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis was also denied as there is no in-service disease or injury indicative of the condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant eligibility.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, right hip disability, foot plantar fasciitis, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy have been dismissed as the issues were not properly adjudicated in the initial decision.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, a bilateral ankle disability, and thyroid nodules with multinodular goiter as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the Veteran's bilateral plantar warts, finding that there were no less than five separate callus formations on his feet. The TDIU claim was denied as the evidence did not show that the service-connected condition prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with degenerative arthritis, OSA, left thumb pain, left index finger pain, left long finger pain, and left ring and little finger pain are all rated at 50 percent. The lumbar spine disability is also rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability was noted at entry and aggravated during service. Service connection is granted for this condition. The Veteran's CFS claim is denied as there is no clear evidence of a direct service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the preexistence and aggravation of foot disabilities during service.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence related to the Veteran's claim for entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been received since the May 2023 rating decision. The claims of increased ratings for cervical spine strain, right shoulder arthralgia, right knee arthralgia based on limitation of flexion, left knee arthralgia based on limitation of flexion, and entitlement to a 40 percent rating, but no higher, for right knee arthralgia based on limitation of extension from October 28, 2024 to February 25, 2025 are remanded.

The Board has determined that there are errors in the decision-making process related to the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right foot disabilities, as well as his left shoulder arthritis and left wrist condition. The AOJ is required to obtain additional medical opinions on these issues.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to their death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for headaches/migraines, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back condition, a right knee condition, a left knee condition, and bilateral pes planus due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The other issues have been granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions including back pain, flat feet, impaired eyesight, joint pain, neck pain, and sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to obtain all relevant medical records.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 26, 2023 for the award of a TDIU and DEA. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU since that date.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance in 2020 was denied because shoes, which are not classified as articles of clothing by VA, were used due to service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the use of open-back shoes did not qualify under the criteria set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 3.810(a).

The Board has dismissed the appeal for hearing loss and granted service connection for right elbow condition. The remaining issues of left elbow, cervical spine, left hand, right hand strain, left shoulder, lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatica), right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatica), movement disorder of the leg, movement disorder of the foot, and bilateral plantar fasciitis are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral flat feet, plantar fasciitis, and sinus tarsi syndrome (bilateral feet disability) is being remanded due to a failure to provide notice of the right to a hearing before the AOJ.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his request.,Service connection is granted for right foot plantar fasciitis secondary to service-connected left foot plantar fasciitis. The Board finds that the Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis is caused by his service-connected left foot plantar fasciitis.