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

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, low back disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to unresolved procedural or factual issues.

The Board has determined that the original grant of service connection for bilateral pes planus was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and therefore, the severance of service connection is improper. The Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus is presumed to have been aggravated by service.

The Board has denied a compensable disability evaluation for the Veteran's left foot calcaneal/plantar bone spur formation and has remanded the issue of service connection for his right foot condition, which he contends is secondary to his service-connected left foot condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral foot disability was granted effective December 16, 2020. The effective date is based on the date he filed his notice of intent to file a claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left foot pes planus, rhinitis, and sinusitis is granted. The restoration of a 20 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and lumbar foraminal stenosis since October 1, 2021 is also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right foot disabilities began during his National Guard service, are connected to service on a direct basis, and have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's atypical chest pain and GERD are found to be secondary to his service-connected asthma, thus granting service connection for these conditions.,His low back condition is found to have been aggravated by his service, allowing for service connection on an aggravation basis. However, the bilateral pes planus was not shown to have worsened during service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis with bilateral pes planus and bilateral degenerative changes to the metatarsals was denied. The Veteran is currently receiving the maximum schedular rating of 30 percent for the period prior to September 22, 2020, and a separate rating of 10 percent for limited motion of the left and right ankles.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied for various conditions, with some issues being remanded.,No new or material evidence was presented to reopen previously denied claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his right and left ankle disabilities, all secondary to a service-connected disability. The Board found that there is not competent, credible evidence supporting these theories.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including arthritis, asthma, sleep apnea, back condition, neck condition, flat foot/pes planus, and hypothyroidism, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral eye condition and bilateral plantar fasciitis are denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,The Veteran's left knee disability and right knee disability are remanded due to inadequate examination, and the Veteran's service connection claim for a back disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for all issues related to service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of right foot disability and lumbar spine disability, finding that the claims were not timely filed within one year of the initial decisions.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to increased ratings for flatfoot, acquired bilateral pes planus; right hallux valgus; and left hallux valgus due to new evidence received after the September 2022 decision on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of left foot disabilities (pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and tendinitis) is denied as he is currently receiving the maximum schedular rating for pes planus. The Board finds that separate ratings cannot be assigned for additional service-connected conditions (plantar fasciitis and tendinitis).

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent prior to May 4, 2020, and 50 percent thereafter for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis. The appeal is being remanded due to unclear employment status prior to May 4, 2020, which affects the TDIU and DEA claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral chronic knee pain, chronic sinusitis, and bilateral chronic plantar fasciitis fibromatosis. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any of these conditions or their relationship to service.

The Veteran's right foot strain with plantar fasciitis is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current condition and service.,Service connection for right hip femoral acetabular impingement syndrome with synovitis is also denied due to lack of in-service injury and no medical opinion linking it to service.

The Veteran's request for an extension of time to file a VA Form 10182 seeking to appeal the April 2021 rating decision was granted. The May 23, 2023 form is deemed timely.