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

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, carpal tunnel syndrome of the upper extremities, low back disability, eye disabilities, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, prostate cancer, and SMC at the housebound rate due to deficiencies in obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) records related to the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board denied an increased rating for right knee strain and other conditions in a November 29, 2023 decision. The Veteran's appeals were dismissed as untimely.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions were incurred in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral flat feet, plantar fasciitis and hallux valgus, hearing loss, psychiatric disabilities, nerve damage, eye disability, and IBS. The decision found that there was no evidence of permanent aggravation of preexisting conditions during service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and denied service connection for a low back disorder. The appeal is remanded to determine if the Veteran's knee disorders are aggravated by his service-connected foot disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been evaluated, and the appeals for increased ratings are denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher evaluations.

The Board has determined that the reduction in the rating for bilateral pes planus with hammer toes from 30 percent to 10 percent was improper and reinstated the original 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and hypertension associated with herbicide agent exposure have been granted. Service connection for vasectomy scar residuals is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for plantar fasciitis as there is no current diagnosis of this condition in the record.

The Veteran's right foot, left foot, right shoulder, left shoulder, cervical spine, right knee, and low back disabilities are granted service connection. The Veteran's chronic bronchitis is also granted service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for headaches, flat feet, and higher ratings for knee disabilities before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has determined that a higher level of SMC is warranted due to the Veteran's service-connected blindness and requires regular aid and attendance. The VA examination report related to bilateral foot disabilities is inadequate, and an updated examination is needed.

The Veteran's combined 100 percent rating for her service-connected disabilities is restored, effective July 1, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for her right and left foot disabilities, including SMC based on loss of use of the feet, is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. Further medical evaluation is needed to consider the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, headaches, left shoulder pain, right shoulder pain, LLER as secondary to lower back condition, and RLER as secondary to lower back condition. The appeals are all denied.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for increased ratings of her service-connected bilateral pes planus and right foot hallux valgus. The Board finds that the earliest possible effective date for the 50 percent rating for bilateral pes planus is January 8, 2019.,The Veteran's entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for right foot hallux valgus and a separate rating for right foot tendinopathy are remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and remanded the remaining issues related to anxiety, depression, foot disability, knee disabilities, back disability, gastrointestinal disability, hypertension, and sleep disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, migraines, and left foot plantar fasciitis are granted. The right elbow condition claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right foot pes planus and his military service. An addendum opinion is required from a healthcare provider.

The Board denied service connection for chronic abdominal hernia, left and right foot disorders, and wrist disorders. The evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or an in-service incurrence.