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

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of right ankle and foot disability, and right leg disability have been dismissed as the Veteran requested to withdraw these issues. The Board also found that a remand is needed for an examination to assess the severity of his service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed mood and anxiety.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for a temporary total disability rating from May 20, 2022 through July 31, 2022 due to convalescence following left toe surgery. The appeals for increased ratings and entitlement to SMC benefits were also granted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, right foot disorder (plantar fasciitis), and left foot disorder (plantar fasciitis) were not incurred or aggravated by service.,There is no evidence of a current disability related to the claimed conditions during service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus. The claim of service connection for a bilateral eye disability is remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral foot disabilities and denied his claim for a finding of total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right ear hearing loss is dismissed.,Service connection for PTSD with anxiety is denied. The Board notes that the evidence does not establish a current diagnosis of PTSD and finds no causal relationship between service and the diagnosed generalized anxiety disorder.,The claims for bilateral foot disability, lumbar spine disability, and lumbar radiculopathy are remanded due to new evidence received in 2023 and potential exposure to toxic chemicals during service.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability is remanded. The Veteran's claim for lumbar radiculopathy remains pending.,The claims for bilateral foot disability, lumbar spine disability, and asthma are remanded due to the need for a TERA memorandum and ILER report.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand instructions, requiring additional examination and development of medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various recurrent disabilities of the cervical spine, hands, hips, and feet, all claimed as resulting from herbicide agent exposure during service. The VA examinations conducted were by nurse practitioners rather than medical doctors, which did not comply with the Board's instructions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The appeals will be adjudicated based on the evidence of record, which could include denial of the benefits sought.

The Veteran's bilateral knee and foot disorders were not present during active duty, did not manifest within one year of service, and are not attributable to service.,Bilateral pes planus was identified as a pre-existing disability on entry into active duty, but the condition was not aggravated beyond its natural progression in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral flatfoot condition began during his military service and grants service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for various conditions were denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The decision did not specify a particular effective date.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw his hearing request and the Board may only consider evidence up to 90 days prior to withdrawal.

The Veteran's appeal for an extension of her delimiting date for educational assistance benefits under Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) was denied because the evidence did not show that she had a physical or mental disability preventing her from pursuing education within the original period of eligibility.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral pes planus is denied as the prior final decision was not continuously pursued and the earliest available effective date is November 7, 2021.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis is dismissed.,The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for headaches is dismissed.,The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for sciatica (left lower extremity radiculopathy) is dismissed.,The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for cervical strain is dismissed.,The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for left knee strain is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, hypertension, and sinusitis due to a lack of evidence showing current diagnoses or a link between the conditions and service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete and inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of any right or left foot disability, including bilateral pes planus and right foot plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's claim for service connection is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbosacral strain, and flat foot are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The Board finds the provided examinations insufficient to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of June 22, 2020, for service connection for bilateral flat feet is granted. The effective date will be set to the day following separation from active service.