Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right ankle, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their current severity and frequency. A new VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been granted. The claim for service connection for a right ankle condition is being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted for a left ankle disability and right ear hearing loss, and entitlement to service connection was denied for arthritis of the lumbar spine and COPD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension due to a lack of current diagnosis and no evidence linking it to his active service.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), and sleep disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and deficiencies in diagnoses and nexus opinions regarding the Veteran's knee/leg and ankle disabilities, which are related to service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's claim for an initial higher rating of 10% for left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain is denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial higher rating of 30% for unspecified anxiety disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine injury is rated at 40 percent effective October 25, 2006. The Board also granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU) based on the combined disability rating of 70 percent.

The Board has granted the appellant's claims for service connection for anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disability, left ankle disability, and right foot disability as they are all related to his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted as a subsequent manifestation of already service-connected left ankle arthritis.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The case was previously remanded for an examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative joint disease (DJD) is secondary to his service-connected left ankle sprain.,The case is being remanded again due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's obesity caused or aggravated his DJD of the bilateral knees. An addendum opinion from a clinician is needed.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his left ankle and left knee disabilities was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for the left ankle disability, nor did it find sufficient grounds to grant a temporary total disability rating due to convalescence for the left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of left ankle and left knee conditions due to further development being necessary.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to duty-to-assist errors, including inadequate medical opinions and missing VA treatment records. The claims will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a noncompensable rating prior to August 27, 2014, and at a 30 percent rating thereafter. The Veteran’s CAD is rated at a 60 percent rating prior to October 30, 2014.,The Veteran's low back disability is rated at a 20 percent rating from August 27, 2014 onwards. The Veteran's left ankle and right foot disabilities are each rated at a 10 percent rating.,TDIU was dismissed as the Veteran has been granted a combined 100 percent rating for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to failures in fulfilling the duty to assist, which are not considered a basis for CUE.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his left ankle disability has been withdrawn. The Board also dismissed the Veteran's claim for a rating higher than 10 percent for his right ankle disability, as it does not meet the criteria for such an increase.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability is etiologically related to an in-service injury, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further action due to insufficient medical opinions and evidence regarding the Veteran's left ankle condition, major depressive disorder, and TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his tinnitus, joint condition (bilateral shoulder tendonitis), thoracolumbar spine disability, and left ankle disability.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability, and left foot/ankle disability. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded for further development.