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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus and right hip osteoarthritis associated with bilateral pes planus, have precluded him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation since June 5, 2014. The Board has granted an effective date of June 5, 2014, but no earlier.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment prior to June 7, 2019. The Board denied his claim for TDIU.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and remanded the cases of left and right ankle pain due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims of left plantar fasciitis, right plantar fasciitis, left ankle tendinitis, right ankle tendinitis, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety and PTSD), and left hip strain are all remanded due to pre-decisional errors in obtaining adequate VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that these conditions do not warrant a higher rating as they do not meet the criteria for a 50% or 40% rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis is rated at 30 percent, the maximum rating available under DC 5276.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as his right ear corresponds to Level I and left ear to Level V on the VA audiometric tables. The highest rating available is zero percent.,The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia with arthritis is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under DC 5260 for flexion limited to 115 degrees and extension limited to 115 degrees without ankylosis or instability.,The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia with arthritis is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under DC 5260 for flexion limited to 115 degrees.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis was granted with an effective date of November 19, 2018. The appeal is denied as the requested earlier effective date is not warranted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus, epididymitis, a left ankle disability, a lower back disability, a left hip disability, and tinnitus as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has determined that a remand is needed to obtain VA examinations for the Veteran's bilateral foot disability and insomnia claims due to incomplete or inadequate examination reports.

The Board has granted service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine and denied service connection for bilateral foot disability including plantar fasciitis, as well as left ankle disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for entitlement to TDIU. The Board has remanded the matter to the VA's Director of Compensation Service for consideration of a TDIU pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran's right thumb crush injury is now rated at 10 percent, while his bilateral pes planus and pseudofolliculitis barbae remain noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the claims for athlete's foot, back disability, neck disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, bilateral foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's bone growth or bunions of the left foot big toe and plantar warts of the left foot are granted service connection. The lower back condition is remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's headache, shin splints, and pes planus disabilities. The kidney disability and diverticulitis disability have been remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was granted a disability rating of 30 percent effective from March 2, 2020. His lumbar spine disability remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot and left foot pes planus due to a lack of an adequate VA medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of his pre-existing bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of plantar fasciitis, which was initially denied in May 2011, has been granted with an effective date of April 15, 2010. The decision is based on the receipt of a claim for arthritis and bilateral foot conditions (including plantar fasciitis) on that date.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received sufficient to readjudicate the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus. The Veteran's current bilateral pes planus is found to be related to his military service, warranting a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and active service or service-connected disabilities.