Citation Nr: 21027093 Decision Date: 05/04/21 Archive Date: 05/04/21 DOCKET NO. 18-01 019 DATE: May 4, 2021 ORDER Entitlement to service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted. FINDING OF FACT Resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor, his bilateral plantar fasciitis is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria for entitlement to service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis have been met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131, 5107; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303. REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran served on active duty from November 2000 to December 2003. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from an October 2015 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Seattle, Washington. In September 2020, the Veteran testified at a videoconference hearing held before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge, and a transcript of that hearing has been associated with the claims file. 1. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis. The Veteran contends that his current bilateral foot condition is related to his military service. The Board concludes that the Veteran has a current disability that is related to his military service. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131, 5107(b); Holton v. Shinseki, 557 F.3d 1363, 1366 (Fed. Cir. 2009); 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(a). VA treatment records show the Veteran has a current diagnosis of bilateral plantar fasciitis. During service, the Veteran was noted to have pes planus upon physical examination. In September 2000, an examining physician noted that the Veteran had pes planus NCD (not considered disabling). In November 2003, an examining physician noted that the Veteran had mild pes planus. Thus, the question becomes whether the current disability is related to service. In an October 2016 opinion, the Veteran's VA treating podiatrist opined that He has a flatfoot condition, pes planus, since he entered service. I diagnosed him with plantar fasciitis upon his first visit with me in the Podiatry clinic, but he developed the symptoms of plantar fasciitis after he was in the service. I reviewed his medical records from September of 2000, where it states that he does have an asymptomatic pes planus condition prior to entering service. I have concluded and, in my opinion, it is more likely, than not his plantar fasciitis bilaterally was caused by his time in military service. The probative value of medical opinion evidence is based on the medical expert's personal examination of the patient, the physician's knowledge and skill in analyzing the data, and the medical conclusion that the physician reaches. Guerrieri v. Brown, 4 Vet. App. 467, 470-71 (1993). Whether a physician provides a basis for his or her medical opinion goes to the weight or credibility of the evidence in the adjudication of the merits. See Hernandez-Toyens v. West, 11 Vet. App. 379, 382 (1998). Other factors for assessing the probative value of a medical opinion are the physician's access to the claims folder and the thoroughness and detail of the opinion. See Prejean v. West, 13 Vet. App. 444, 448-9 (2000); Nieves-Rodriguez, 22 Vet. App. 295 (2008); Prejean v. West, 13 Vet. App. 444, 448-9 (2000). Here, the October 2016 opinion was provided by a VA medical professional who possesses the necessary education, training, and expertise to provide the requested opinions. Additionally, the opinion is also shown to have been based on a review of the Veteran's record and is accompanied by a sufficient explanation as to why the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is related to his in-service pes planus. Furthermore, there is no competing medical opinion of record. Given the positive October 2016 VA podiatrist opinion, the Board finds service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis is warranted. Upon review of the record, the Board finds the evidence to at least be in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral plantar fasciitis is related to service. Accordingly, after resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran, the Board finds that service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis is warranted. 38 U.S.C. § 5107; 38 C.F.R. § 3.102. T. MAINELLI Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board Michael J. O'Connor The Board's decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.