Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for pes planus, bilateral; hallux valgus (left foot); hallux valgus (right foot); and hammer toes (left foot) and (right foot), finding that the Veteran's conditions pre-existed his military service and did not worsen during service.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a left foot disability, to include pes planus, due to VA medical care.

The reduction of the Veteran's bilateral pes planus rating from 30% to 10% was improper, and the 30% rating is restored. The claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the big toe bilaterally, an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety), erectile dysfunction, and headaches are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for plantar fasciitis and gastrointestinal reflux disease due to insufficient evidence in their favor.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates have been denied as the earliest possible effective date is November 1, 2013, following his separation from service.,Effective January 17, 2018, the Veteran was granted separate ratings for various hand and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, initially claimed as migraines, is denied because the evidence does not support a finding that his current condition began during active service or is otherwise related to active service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for IBS is denied because there is no persuasive evidence of a current diagnosis and the evidence does not support a finding that he had an in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Board has accepted the October 2019 VA Form 9 as timely and will proceed with a decision on the merits of the service connection claims under the legacy review system.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of bilateral hearing loss. The Board found new and relevant evidence to support reopening these claims.,Service connection has been established for tinnitus, right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, right foot disability, and skin disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss and left foot disability due to a duty to assist error prior to the August 2022 and January 2023 rating decisions. The Veteran is required to be provided with notice of his right to a hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and bilateral foot disability as secondary to the back disability, effective from March 25, 2019. Service connection was denied for a skin disability and right shoulder condition.

The Board has granted effective dates of January 9, 2022 for the service connection of adjustment disorder with anxiety, bilateral pes planus, thoracic spondylosis with lumbar spine arthropathy, tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for plantar fasciitis and bilateral pes planus, as well as an earlier effective date of September 8, 2006 for the award of service connection for the left ankle scar. The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his left ankle condition is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for a left foot disability, right foot disability, bilateral heel disability, psychiatric disorder, stomach disability, and GERD.,There is no evidence of any current disabilities or symptoms related to these conditions during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher evaluation for his service-connected foot disability is being remanded due to the need to obtain information about the qualifications of the December 2022 VA examiner who conducted the examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and remanded the issue of an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for status post umbilical hernia repair.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, right and left knee disability, bilateral foot disability, and TDIU due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, skin rash, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, right knee strain, and left knee strain have all been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions in the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service treatment records are not in the file and have not been obtained. The claim for service connection for a left foot disability is remanded to obtain these records, conduct a VA examination, and determine the etiology of any diagnosed left foot disability.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the Board Appeal request was not timely filed within one year of the rating decision, and good cause for an extension was not shown.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for right knee strain, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (radiculopathy), and left foot pes planus due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service treatment records do not indicate a complaint or diagnosis of these conditions during service. A VA examination is needed to determine if there is a relationship between the current diagnoses and service.