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

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. Service connection is established for bilateral pes planus, a left hip disorder secondary to the pes planus, and a psychiatric disorder secondary to the pes planus.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology and service connection for plantar fasciitis of the left foot. A new VA opinion is needed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable prior to June 3, 2019 and at a 10 percent rating thereafter. The Board found the evidence did not support an increased rating for this condition.,Service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, low back disability, cervical spine disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right knee disability, left knee condition, right hip disability, and left hip disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right knee disability, a right foot disability, and OSA due to incomplete or inadequate medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right foot disorder, finding that clear and unmistakable evidence established that pes planus pre-existed service and was not aggravated beyond its natural progression. The Board also found no causal or etiological relationship between any other diagnosed conditions (plantar fasciitis) and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he has maintained employment during the appeal period and his disabilities have allowed him to contribute positively through volunteer work.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for bilateral hearing loss, left foot disability, or left knee disability. The claim for lumbosacral strain is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's service connection claims are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and insufficient evidence linking any claimed disabilities to service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain residuals, tinnitus, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertensive vascular disease (high blood pressure) is dismissed.,A 70 percent initial rating, but no higher, is granted for PTSD from December 2, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for pes planus has been dismissed because he withdrew his appeal in March 2024.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of his right thumb disability, service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, and service connection for depression are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD and increased ratings for tension headaches associated with traumatic brain injury and bilateral pes planus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or relationship to service for COPD, and that the Veteran's tension headaches did not meet the criteria for a 50% rating under Diagnostic Code 8100.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations, and requests that appropriate clinicians conduct these exams in Syracuse, New York.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability other than pes planus, finding that there was no evidence to support the contention that his current condition began during or was aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, left ankle, and left foot disabilities as well as asthma. All conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's active duty service.,No specific exposure basis was provided in the decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot disability, Bell's palsy, and fibromyalgia due to incomplete examination reports and need for further medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of left foot, left knee, and low back disabilities due to inadequate VA opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and a bilateral foot disability due to incomplete records, need for medical opinions regarding etiology, and reasonable possibility of secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot disability and bilateral knee disability due to incomplete records and conflicting medical opinions. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome has been withdrawn and is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus and bilateral tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral foot disability was denied, as the criteria provided in DC 5276 reasonably describe his disability level and symptomatology.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disability was also denied. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's bilateral eye disability is less likely than not incurred in or caused by his military service.