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

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied due to a lack of medical diagnosis based on DSM-V criteria.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety and depression) was also denied as there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that his pre-existing condition was not aggravated by active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn, and the Board has dismissed these issues due to withdrawal. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus began during her military service and is not related to a pre-existing condition. Therefore, service connection for this disability is granted.

The Board has determined that there are duty to assist errors and the Veteran's claims for service connection related to his bilateral foot and knee disabilities need further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis is denied as the evidence does not show that he has no relief from both non-surgical and surgical treatment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board has found that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, plantar fascitis, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, chronic bronchitis, left knee strain, right knee strain, lumbosacral strain, pes planus, or leg length discrepancy.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded to allow for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot disorders other than plantar fasciitis, finding that new VA etiology opinions are needed to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes planus caused him to become obese, which was a substantial factor in causing his obstructive sleep apnea. Therefore, the claim for secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete STRs and a need for additional development, including obtaining missing records from active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability have been denied. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea (OSA), acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD and depression, right foot disability, and left foot disability.,For his right ear hearing loss, the Veteran was not granted a compensable rating.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed because he is already receiving a combined schedular rating of 100% for his service-connected disabilities, which means he does not have any single disability rated as totally disabling and thus does not meet the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, GERD, headaches, hypertension, sleep disorder, and plantar fasciitis are remanded due to a duty to assist error. A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for allergic rhinitis, left hand scar, and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied. The right foot disability (plantar fasciitis) and right shoulder disability claims are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine its etiology and whether it is related to service or secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral foot disability was aggravated by active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to lack of statutory or regulatory authority, and the AOJ correctly started payment in October 2021.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, rated at 10% from January 24, 2013, to May 10, 2015, is now rated at 30%, effective from that date. The Board also granted an earlier effective date for individual unemployability before May 11, 2015.

The Veteran's left foot pes planus is rated at 30 percent, which meets the criteria for this disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right foot pes planus, left knee strain, and right hip strain are all granted. The left knee and right hip strains are found to be secondary to the service-connected right foot disability.