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

The Veteran's left-hand little finger and ring finger disabilities have been rated as noncompensable under the applicable rating criteria.,The Veteran's right foot and left foot disabilities have also been rated as noncompensable.

The appeals concerning various disabilities and benefits have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that a new direct service connection opinion is needed to address the Veteran's claim for bilateral pes planus, as the previous opinion did not adequately consider his lay reports of foot pain since entry into active service.

The appeal for an increased rating for plantar fasciitis is dismissed.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability and lumbar spine disability are granted. Service connection for a right shoulder disability is denied. The issues of service connection for right hip disability and left hip disability are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, right knee disability, and left knee disability were granted service connection from October 25, 2007. The adjudicator incorrectly applied the provisions regarding the presumption of aggravation in April 2008, leading to a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right knee and left knee conditions, hearing loss, tinnitus, and back issues, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment from September 25, 2017, to January 14, 2020. The Board granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating of his service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, effective June 6, 2023.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and service connection claims have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The Board finds that the December 2006 rating decision never became final, and entitlement to an effective date of March 2, 2005, was established.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied as there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current diagnosis to service or within one year of separation. The Board finds that the positive evidence of record consists solely of the Veteran's lay belief in a causal link between service and his subsequent development of diabetes mellitus, which was not supported by medical records.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus and bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted. The Board finds that the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria for a 10 percent rating under DC 5276.

The Board has denied service connection for right hand pain and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's left foot, right foot (other than pes planus), and low back disabilities were not caused by or incurred in service.,The Veteran's right hip condition was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for pes planus from August 22, 2019, to March 15, 2021, is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show more nearly approximate the symptoms associated with a 50 percent rating until March 15, 2021.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed as his claim for service connection for a respiratory disability has been granted. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral flat feet, tinnitus, and skin rash are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations. The issues of service connection for psychiatric disability, urinary tract disability, increased rating for back disability, and right foot plantar fasciitis are pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist and knee disabilities due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran is seeking service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of both wrists and knee disabilities, including pes planus and degenerative joint disease.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus due to a duty to assist error in obtaining inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right leg disabilities, bilateral foot disability, left toe disability, and right toe disability. The claim for service connection for a right knee disability is also remanded.,Service connection was not granted as there is no current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted a rating of 40 percent, and her bilateral pes planus and right foot conditions are also granted service connection. The Veteran's radiculopathy and bunionectomy with osteotomy, left foot disabilities have been denied initial increased ratings.

The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional error in VA's duty to assist, specifically regarding the adequacy of the March 2020 VA examination report and the need for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate nexus opinion linking the Veteran's left foot disability, including arch pain and bunions, to her service. The Veteran is requested to provide additional medical evidence.