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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and relevant evidence having been submitted, including his in-service experiences and current symptoms.

The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error in not associating the Veteran's service treatment records with the claims file, and therefore the Board is unable to decide the issues currently on appeal. The Board also finds that remand for development of a longitudinal exposure record (ILER) and a TERA opinion is necessary.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for recurrent cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board will seek further medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including heart disability, right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities, right hand and left hand disabilities, right knee and left knee disabilities, and right foot and left foot disabilities due to incomplete evidence and need for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for various foot and hand conditions, including left great toe degenerative joint disease, right great toe degenerative joint disease, bilateral foot plantar calcaneal enthesophytes, and right shoulder degenerative joint disease/bone spurs, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were caused by an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including left knee, TBI residuals, right ankle and foot disabilities. The claims are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral pes planus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions began during active service. Service connection for a cervical spine disability was previously granted in August 2004 and is no longer on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and bilateral pes planus with metatarsalgia are remanded due to a duty to assist error. An addendum medical opinion is required to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on three different conditions have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed it.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis with heel spur syndrome and degenerative changes to right first metatarsal head, degenerative joint disease with torn medial meniscus, right knee, and right ankle fracture.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral calluses and plantar warts has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus disability is related to service and grants direct service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to March 24, 2014 and initial ratings for gout and bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus were denied.,For the initial rating of gout, a higher rating than 40 percent was also denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of various lower extremity disabilities, including right knee, right ankle, left ankle, right foot, and left foot disabilities, due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including pes planus, plantar fasciitis, gout, sleep apnea, toe fungus of both feet, skin rash of the upper extremities, and bilateral hearing loss, were all denied as they are not related to service or do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for her knee conditions and TDIU have been dismissed as she has withdrawn them. The Board finds that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to her service-connected disabilities from May 10, 2010.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability is rated at a higher initial rating of 70 percent, effective from September 30, 2015 to May 10, 2023. The lumbar spine disability and left knee disability are denied for the respective periods, while the left foot disability receives a higher initial rating of 20 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives and insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral foot conditions, including pes planus, plantar warts, plantar fasciitis, and pustular tinea pedis.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis and nerve entrapment neuropathy has been dismissed. The claims for left foot and right foot nerve conditions have not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.