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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis. These conditions are deemed to be related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for alopecia was denied as there is no present disability.,Service connection for left foot pes planus with plantar fasciitis was also denied due to a lack of evidence showing aggravation beyond its natural progression.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis, claimed as secondary to bilateral pes planus, is denied.,Service connection for bilateral pes planus is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities have been denied as there was no claim filed prior to April 26, 2021.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral flat feet with residuals and obstructive sleep apnea. The cases are being remanded to consider the merits of these claims.

The Veteran's bilateral flat feet have been granted service connection. The effective date remains pending as the appeal was withdrawn for tinnitus and IBS.,An increased rating to 30 percent has been granted for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with metatarsalgia and left foot degenerative arthritis is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, which represents the highest possible rating for this condition. The Board has remanded the claims related to secondary service connection as they are not yet resolved.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and cause of the Veteran's bilateral foot disability, specifically plantar fasciitis. The claim is also being reviewed for whether her preexisting pes planus was aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and causation of a foot disability, particularly numbness in the feet and toes. The Veteran's complaints were not adequately addressed by the VA examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected left-ear hearing loss was rated as noncompensable, and his service-connected plantar fasciitis, bilateral, was rated at 10 percent. The Board remanded the claim for an increased rating of tinnitus.,The Veteran's service-connected plantar fasciitis, bilateral, was rated at 10 percent. The Board found that there is no evidence to support a higher rating and remanded the case for further development.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluations for scar, status post resection of right and left big toes are denied. The Board also found that the Veteran was not precluded from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities prior to June 5, 2020, thus denying entitlement to TDIU and DEA benefits prior to this date.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, which results in marked pronation and extreme tenderness on the plantar surfaces of both feet despite using orthopedic shoes or appliances, is granted an initial 50 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is rated at a 10 percent effective February 7, 2021. The Board found the evidence incomplete as it did not include private treatment records and remanded for their acquisition.,For ED, DMII, IBS, and GERD, VA must obtain medical opinions under PACT Act provisions due to in-service exposure risk activities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date for the award of a 30 percent rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding no pending claim prior to August 24, 2022, and that there is no factually ascertainable increase in the condition during the year prior to the receipt of the claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right foot, left foot, and hip disabilities have been denied. The Veteran is granted initial 10 percent ratings for his service-connected right knee scar and left knee.,A TDIU has been granted based on the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities rendering him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring an addendum VA medical nexus opinion.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, as it was not previously provided despite meeting the requirements for such an examination.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder does not meet the criteria for SMC based on aid and attendance due to his ability to dress, feed himself, and perform daily activities. He is also not considered housebound due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining STRs and seeking a medical opinion.