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

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ankle and right foot disabilities, finding that these conditions began during his active duty.

The Veteran's bilateral hip and knee conditions, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, and plantar fasciitis, pes planus, and hammer toes are all granted service connection as they are related to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral ankle, foot, hip, and lumbar spine disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing current diagnoses or a causal relationship with service. The claims of entitlement to service connection for inguinal hernia, hypertension, tinea pedis, and allergic rhinitis are remanded as the VA medical opinions provided were inadequate.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cardiovascular, anxiety, and bilateral foot disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral flat foot, left ankle sprain, and right ankle condition due to errors in obtaining adequate medical opinions regarding the onset and relationship of these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran was not afforded VA examinations, and the AOJ did not reschedule them despite noting good cause.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence to establish a link between her in-service injury and any present condition.

New and relevant evidence has been received regarding the previously denied matters of service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder, knee, ankle, hip, lower back, upper back, neck, and pes planus. The claims are being readjudicated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hammer toe left and right, as secondary to their respective plantar fasciitis conditions are being remanded due to the inextricability with other pending claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development to address whether the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and/or bilateral knee disabilities aggravated his bilateral foot disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus was not aggravated during his service. His right and left knee disabilities are directly related to his service.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Service connection is denied for depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), neck disability, left upper extremity nerve condition, right upper extremity nerve condition, restless leg syndrome, left knee disability, anxiety, insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, left wrist disability, right wrist disability, intestinal disability, hemorrhoids, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and bilateral foot disability.,Service connection is denied for neck disability. Service connection is remanded for entitlement to service connection for anxiety, insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, left wrist disability, right wrist disability, intestinal disability, hemorrhoids, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for bilateral flat feet, left knee arthritis, lower back pain, and right knee arthritis. The appeal regarding whether new and relevant evidence was submitted to readjudicate the claim for sleep apnea is also dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral foot conditions and skin rash were denied service connection as there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's spouse applied for PCAFC benefits on the Veteran's behalf. The Board found that the Veteran requires personal care services due to a need for regular or extensive instruction or supervision without which his ability to function in daily life would be seriously impaired. However, the AOJ must obtain an opinion as to whether it is in the best interest of the Veteran to participate in the PCAFC program before making a final determination on eligibility.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for TMJ dysfunction is denied. The Veteran had interincisal range of motion from 21 to 29 mm without dietary restrictions, warranting a 20 percent disability rating prior to November 20, 2024, and a 10 percent disability rating thereafter.,The claim for an effective date prior to May 27, 2023, for the 70 percent evaluation of the other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is denied. The Veteran's symptoms did not worsen within one year from the date of his May 2023 claim.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability and left kidney disorder are both denied. There is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service injuries that could be linked to these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo secondary to tinnitus is remanded, as the issue has not been fully adjudicated.

The reduction of the disability rating for service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes planus from 50 percent to 30 percent was improper, and the 50 percent rating is restored effective December 1, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of left adrenal mass was not reconsidered due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus remains at a 10% rating, but the appeal is mixed as some issues were granted (bilateral pes planus) while others are pending.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right foot disabilities with edema due to a lack of an adequate VA opinion regarding whether these conditions are caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's migraine headaches warrant a 30 percent rating, but no higher. The claims for bilateral pes planus, right knee chondromalacia patella, and GERD are remanded due to insufficient evidence.