Ankle decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities other than PTSD render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back pain and ankle weakness, as there are outstanding records from Social Security Administration (SSA) and VA opinions are required to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU on both schedular and extra-schedular grounds.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is less likely than not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected thoracolumbar spine and lower extremity disabilities, including medications taken for these conditions. Therefore, the claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral knee and right ankle disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right lower extremity disabilities, including ankle instability and posterior tibial tendonitis, are not related to her active service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease leading to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left hand, right hand, and left wrist disabilities secondary to the service-connected right wrist disability. The Veteran's right wrist disability is currently rated as 10% disabling from January 3, 2013 to February 13, 2013 due to a temporary total rating based on convalescence following surgery. For the period prior to and after this date, the Veteran’s right wrist disability is not entitled to an increased rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back disorder, and bilateral shoulder disorders have been reopened. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the claims for bilateral ankle condition and acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to insufficient explanations in the prior decision. The claim for OSA is also being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, osteoarthritis and for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD. The decision found that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and that the current disabilities were not related to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left and right ankle tarsal tunnel syndromes are service-connected due to their relationship with his service-connected bilateral pes planus and ankle degenerative joint disease. The remaining issues of service connection for other conditions remain on appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and left elbow disability, but has remanded the claim for service connection of the left ankle condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left hand conditions are granted service connection, but his bilateral hearing loss and left ankle condition are denied. The initial rating for PTSD is also granted.

The Board has identified errors in the duty to assist and remands the cases for further development, including obtaining VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for left foot/ankle, right foot/ankle, left knee, and low back disorders, finding that the current conditions are not related to any period of active duty or inactive duty training.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left ankle disability is aggravated by his service-connected right ankle, right knee, or low back disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right ankle fracture has been dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected chronic right ankle strain with limitation of motion was denied. The Board also found that the Veteran's back disability, other than spondylolisthesis, did not originate in service and is not otherwise etiologically related to service or secondary to service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea is dismissed. A 60 percent rating for brachio-radial pruritus/urticaria is granted subject to the laws and regulations governing the award of monetary benefits. The claims for service connection for left ankle, elbow, and hand disabilities are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for right ankle condition, left arm condition, urethritis, and left wrist condition as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.