Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disorder and a right shoulder disability, finding that there is no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and remanded the issues of sleep apnea, right lower extremity radiculopathy, neck condition (low back condition), left lower extremity radiculopathy, and left ankle strain.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if any of the Veteran's claimed disabilities are related to his service-connected right great-toe disability.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle condition, which was not service-connected. The case will be remanded for further examination and medical opinion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of left ankle osteoarthritis as secondary to his service-connected left foot fibromatosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that Gilbert's syndrome, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, gout of the bilateral ankles, feet, and toes, arthritis of the lumbar spine with strain, plantar fasciitis with mild degenerative joint disease (left foot), plantar fasciitis with mild degenerative joint disease (right foot), allergic rhinitis, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease with diverticulitis, and sebaceous cyst were not service connected or warranted increased ratings.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration during the period from December 29, 2013, to December 29, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left knee, right knee, and left ankle conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand arthritis and a right ankle disability because no new and relevant evidence was submitted since the prior final denial.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea, left and right ankle osteoarthritis, and bilateral plantar fasciitis with right foot pes planus were denied. The Veteran was granted a 30 percent disability rating for his bilateral plantar fasciitis with right foot pes planus.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the right and left ankles is granted. Increased ratings for her bilateral knee disabilities are denied, but she has other issues on appeal including TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his left ankle disability and GERD. The VA will need to determine the nature of any current disabilities, their etiology, and whether they are related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, low back disability, right knee and fibula disability, right ankle disability, and bilateral pes planus is granted. Initial ratings of 10% are assigned for each condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted for the periods from September 2, 2011 to December 11, 2012, and from February 2, 2013 to December 3, 2016. The issue was dismissed prior to June 19, 2011 and from December 4, 2016.

The Veteran's death was attributed to natural causes, with no service-connected disability contributing substantially or materially. The VA medical opinion concluded that the Veteran’s death was not caused by any VA treatment.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a left ankle disability has been granted. The Board has also remanded several other issues including increased ratings and service connection claims.

The Veteran's left ankle strain is rated at 20 percent from March 26, 2010 to the present. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and further clarification is needed regarding the range of motion for both ankles.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, neck, left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities may be related to service. However, due to a lack of VA examinations addressing these claims, the case is being remanded for further evaluation.