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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of right shoulder and right foot disabilities due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus.,Service connection is denied for headache disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, right elbow disability, left elbow disability, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability. Service connection is also denied for bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's claims for leukocytosis, right foot plantar fasciitis, and a right ankle disability are denied. The Veteran's seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, left and right wrist rheumatoid arthritis with osteopenia, left and right knee strain with rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia are granted as related to in-service bacterial food poisoning. Service connection for hair loss is also granted secondary to service-connected rheumatoid arthritis.

The Veteran's pes planus with plantar fasciitis is rated as 50 percent disabling, which is the maximum schedular rating permitted for pes planus. The appeal is denied as the criteria for higher ratings are not met.

The Veteran's tinnitus and voiding dysfunction were denied as not related to her military service. The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, hysterectomy, left ankle condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (phobias), and rhinitis need further examination and opinion.,The Veteran was provided with a remand for additional examinations and opinions to address her claims of tinnitus, voiding dysfunction, bilateral pes planus, hysterectomy, left ankle condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (phobias), and rhinitis.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities is granted from October 1, 2021.

The Veteran is granted entitlement to a TDIU and basic eligibility to DEA benefits from April 17, 2017 to October 11, 2020 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the decision denying eligibility for PCAFC is not clear and does not provide adequate reasons or bases. The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), tension headache, left shoulder labral tear, wrist tendinitis, fibromyalgia, lumbosacral strain, knee pain, plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, TMJ capsulitis, dry eye syndrome, allergic rhinitis, scars, and psoriasis are considered. The Board has ordered remand to clarify the reason for denial and provide proper notice.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, including pes planus, peripheral neuropathy, and venous insufficiency, finding that there was no evidence of in-service aggravation of his pre-existing pes planus condition. The other conditions were not shown to have developed during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to incomplete or inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between the appellant's service-connected knee disabilities and her claimed disabilities. The VA must obtain additional medical opinions addressing whether the non-service-connected disabilities would have been less severe but-for the service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a need for additional development and medical opinions. The right shoulder condition, pes planus, and heel pain are all under review.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis, left foot plantar fasciitis, obstructive sleep apnea, skin rash, and low back disability. The VA examiners found no evidence of these conditions during or after service.,There is no medical evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral foot conditions, including pes planus, metatarsalgia with arthritis, and heel spurs. The VA is required to obtain additional medical opinions to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus is related to service and granted service connection for right foot pes planus and left foot pes planus.

The Veteran's right hand calluses are denied as there is no evidence of chronicity of care for his right hand friction burn, and the VA opinions found that it is less likely than not that the current right hand calluses were caused by service. The left ear hearing loss is also denied as the auditory thresholds in both ears did not meet the criteria for a disability.,The Veteran's neck condition, memory loss due to traumatic brain injury, ulnar nerve condition, left hand and right hand nerve conditions, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), bilateral flat feet and bunions, bilateral hallux valgus/bunions, and bilateral hammer toes are all remanded as further development is needed.

The Board has decided to remand the case for issuing a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding the issue of an earlier effective date for service connection for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to provide a VA examination, and will consider whether the Veteran's current foot disabilities are related to his service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied it for bilateral flat feet, based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for pes planus and plantar fasciitis has been withdrawn by the Veteran's attorney representative.

The reduction of the rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis from 30 percent to 10 percent was improper, and the restoration of the 30 percent rating is granted. Ratings in excess of 30 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis with right foot ossicle, right knee strain with degenerative arthritis, and left knee strain with degenerative arthritis are denied.