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

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy are granted as secondary to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disorder. The issues of service connection for seizure disorder, headache disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, right upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral flatfoot remain pending.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for bilateral pes planus, and the Board has dismissed the case.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus existed before active service and was not worsened by service. The case is remanded to obtain a VA opinion to determine if the disability is related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea is not causally related to his service-connected disabilities, but may have been aggravated by them. The Board also found that obesity, which may be linked to his service-connected disabilities, was a substantial factor in causing his sleep apnea. As such, the issue must be remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his sickle cell anemia and related secondary disabilities. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the claim for sickle cell anemia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board must obtain private podiatry treatment records identified in the May 2021 VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for anxiety, insomnia, and depression is dismissed. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of reoccurring acute sinusitis due to his in-service exposure to particulate matter during his active service. Service connection is granted for this condition. Other claims are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral flat feet and plantar fasciitis are remanded due to a lack of medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions as related to service. The VA must provide appropriate examinations and obtain necessary medical nexus opinions.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it began during service.,Service connection for a left elbow disorder is denied due to lack of evidence.

The Board has restored a previously reduced 50% evaluation for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, finding no actual improvement in the Veteran's condition during the appeal period.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's service-connected plantar warts, finding that the condition did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for GERD and Plantar Fasciitis have been granted at a 30 percent level effective September 6, 2020. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of Migraines and TDIU are being remanded.

The Veteran's migraines, cervical spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral foot disability have been granted service connection. The Veteran also received a TDIU effective March 27, 2018, and SMC at the housebound rate effective that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for left and right foot disabilities due to duty-to-assist errors.,An addendum VA opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's bilateral foot disabilities were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's PTSD and bilateral foot disability were granted increased ratings in the May 2023 rating decision, effective April 11, 2023, and March 25, 2023 respectively. Attorney fees of 20% of past-due benefits awarded are now eligible.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 28, 2012 for service connection of his bilateral foot condition was denied. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date is March 28, 2012, as this is when the Veteran filed a Supplemental Claim to reopen his previously denied claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional error in providing VA examinations. The Veteran is still seeking service connection for insomnia/unspecified anxiety disorder and bilateral plantar fasciitis, with the latter potentially related to his service-connected degenerative disc disease.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right lower extremity numbness, left lower extremity numbness, right wrist disability, strain of the left quadriceps, degenerative arthritis of the right hand, a disability of the left foot, low back disability, deformity of the left foot, and right foot plantar fasciitis. The claims are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus with mild calluses and a lung condition, to include spontaneous right pneumothorax, are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations.

The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is dismissed because the Veteran's claim was granted in a prior decision. The claims of service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral flat feet are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.