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

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral pes planus and bilateral plantar fasciitis due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran's lay statements, including her symptoms during service, will be considered in the new VA examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted, and his service connection claims for various conditions were dismissed. The effective date of the TDIU is not specified in the decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The claims are not granted as there is no current hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and right foot disabilities due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of December 18, 2018 for various ratings and Dependents' Educational Assistance awards.

The Board denied service connection for right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities as well as bilateral pes planus (flat foot) and foot pain. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service injuries.,The Veteran's Service Treatment Records showed no complaints or treatment for the claimed conditions prior to his discharge from active duty.

The Veteran's disability rating for his service-connected bilateral foot disability (plantar fasciitis) was restored to 50 percent effective November 17, 2018. The Board found that the reduction of the rating from 50 percent to 30 percent was improper and ruled in favor of restoring the original rating.

The Veteran's initial 50 percent rating for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is granted. Other conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), type II diabetes, erectile dysfunction, nephrolithiasis and pyelonephritis, lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, and bilateral restless leg syndrome are also granted. Service connection is established for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to comply with duty to assist requirements, specifically regarding the opinion on whether the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus was aggravated during service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right flatfoot were granted. The claim for shoulder impingement syndrome, left was remanded due to the need for a medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis has been denied as there is no persuasive evidence of its occurrence during or shortly after his military service.,The Veteran's appeal seeking an initial compensable rating for headaches was dismissed due to the lack of timely filing and concurrent election issues. The issue will be remanded for further consideration.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diverticulosis/IBS (formerly GERD) has been dismissed as it is no longer pending at the Board level after a grant by the Board in February 2025, effective from January 23, 2021.,The Veteran's appeal seeking an initial compensable rating for CTS was dismissed due to concurrent election issues. The issue will be remanded for further consideration.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD has been granted by the Board in February 2025, effective from January 23, 2021. The appeal is dismissed as this represents a full grant of the benefit sought on appeal.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus/plantar fasciitis and CTS were remanded due to concurrent election issues. These issues will be addressed in a future rating decision.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI was not on appeal as it was predecisional error not to address the current rating issue. The issue is remanded for further consideration.,The Veteran's appeal seeking an earlier effective date for the award of a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches will be considered in a future decision.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including a heart disorder, arthritis of the right big toe, PTSD, erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD, plantar fasciitis, and a right ankle disorder. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the right knee condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral foot disability and bilateral eye disability due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's current sleep apnea is granted, but his bilateral foot and eye disabilities are not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot disability (including left great toe strain and plantar fasciitis) and right foot plantar fasciitis are being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability and TBI are remanded due to missed examinations. The Board finds a pre-decisional duty to assist error in the development of his claims.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left and right pes planus, hammer toes, and hallux valgus were denied as the evidence did not show that the disabilities warranted higher ratings.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis has been granted a maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, effective January 28, 2022. The initial rating for lumbar spine disability (lumbar strain) is also granted at 40 percent, effective August 19, 2018.

The Board has determined that there are errors in the decision-making process and requires a remand for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's right foot disorder and bilateral hearing loss claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, foot disability, and hearing loss as there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Veteran's claim for ED was denied as there is no current disability.,Right carpal tunnel syndrome was denied due to insufficient evidence linking it to the TERA exposure.,Left carpal tunnel syndrome was denied as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of this condition.,Right ankle sprain and left foot pes planus were both denied because there is no current disability.,Right foot pes planus was denied due to lack of evidence.,Non-diabetic neuropathy of the right upper extremity was denied as it is currently diagnosed as right carpal tunnel syndrome.