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

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for right wrist tenosynovitis has been denied as no new and relevant evidence was submitted.,The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for bilateral foot disability, to include plantar fasciitis, have been granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The AOJ will remand this claim for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted as she submitted new and relevant evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for headaches, right foot disability, and left foot disability due to errors in duty-to-assist and other procedural issues.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and bilateral hallux valgus, but denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's service connection claim for left ear hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability of left ear hearing loss to an extent recognized as a disability for VA purposes.,Service connection has been granted for allergic rhinitis. The Board finds that the evidence does not establish whether the Veteran's current lumbar spine condition is directly related to his active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip strain, right hip strain, left ankle sprain, right ankle sprain, left foot plantar fasciitis, and right foot plantar fasciitis. The low back lumbosacral strain was also granted service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus has been rated at 50 percent, effective from April 20, 2011. The rating is granted based on the evidence showing pronounced bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder is denied as it is not distinct from his service-connected unspecified anxiety and depressive disorders.,Bilateral hearing loss is denied due to the lack of current diagnosis meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and SMC have been remanded by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The hearing loss claim is denied as not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating prior to April 9, 2021. Service connection for ED secondary to major depressive disorder has also been remanded.

The Veteran's left shoulder condition claim is dismissed as the AOJ did not readjudicate it.,The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of sciatica, right carpal tunnel syndrome, or left carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's claimed disabilities, including left shoulder, right shoulder, right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and prostate cancer, were not incurred or aggravated during service. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected feet disabilities are inextricably intertwined and requires further examination to clarify the current diagnoses and their impact on rating.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of various conditions as they have already been granted in a previous rating decision.

The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis is currently rated at 10 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's left wrist sprain and left shoulder strain are both rated at 20 percent. The evidence does not support an increase in these ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral pes planus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. Additional VA opinions are required to address whether these conditions are related to service or secondary to prescribed medications.

The Veteran's appeal for a certificate of eligibility for the purposes of a VA loan guaranty was dismissed because she has already been issued such a certificate due to her service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings for service-connected plantar fasciitis and TMJ were dismissed because he did not timely file a VA Form 10182 as to the August 2021 rating decision, and good cause was not shown.

The Board has determined that the discontinuance of SMC at the housebound rate was improper and has revised the effective date to October 1, 2022. The Veteran's entitlement to SMC benefits is now correct as of this date.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral pes planus was dismissed because the VA Form 10182, submitted to appeal the decision, was received more than one year after the February 2019 rating decision and no good cause was shown.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The denial of service connection for left ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, right ankle disability, left hand disability, and neck disability remains unchanged. The Board has remanded the issues regarding bilateral foot disability and right ankle disability due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus was aggravated by his service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.