Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to errors in obtaining relevant records and providing adequate opinions.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's right ankle disability, finding that it is more nearly approximated by marked limitation of motion. The decision also acknowledges that there is no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant higher ratings.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, low back disorder, and left ankle disorder. The Veteran's claims were not based on a presumption of service connection due to exposure to Agent Orange or other specific conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for low back disability and right ankle disability due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of his symptoms will be considered in a supplemental opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues. The left ankle disorder case requires an addendum VA medical opinion, while the back disorder case is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision. The left ankle disability claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability, right lower extremity chronic muscular strain, left lower extremity chronic muscular strain, right ankle synovitis, left ankle synovitis, right foot plantar fasciitis, and left foot plantar fasciitis have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for any of these conditions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS and a headache disability were also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee and ankle disabilities have prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment since March 25, 2010. The Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the period from March 25, 2010 to September 17, 2012, and reinstated the schedular TDIU effective July 26, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient consideration of continuity of symptomatology from service to present time and failure to consider a stressor event. The Veteran will be afforded VA examinations to address his remaining claims.

The Board denied service connection for shin splints and denied increased ratings for knee, ankle, and foot osteoarthritis. The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were rated under Diagnostic Code 5260 (limitation of flexion) with a maximum rating of 10 percent each. Separate 10 percent ratings were granted for right and left knee instability. Separate 30 percent ratings were granted for right and left foot osteoarthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disorders, finding that these conditions had their onset during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic headaches, bilateral foot disabilities (other than calluses), left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left foot disability (other than calluses), and right foot disability (other than calluses) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions and their relationship to his active duty service.

The Veteran's left deltoid ligament sprain and left ankle disability are both rated at 20 percent, the highest available rating without ankylosis.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for ankle injury, right was dismissed as the appellant requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain with instability is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination as his condition may have worsened since the last evaluation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to inadequate examinations and the need for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the combined impact of his service-connected disabilities on employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's back disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's sleep disorder, diabetes mellitus, Type II, peripheral neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities, right shoulder impairment, left shoulder impairment, cervical spine disorder, arthritis of the ankles and hips, and tinnitus are not service-connected as they did not begin during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's cerebrovascular accident, status post is not service-connected as it was first shown years after separation from service.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evidence collection. Specifically, a new VA examination is required for his left knee disability, cervical radiculopathy of both upper extremities, back condition, right ankle sprain, and left ankle sprain.