Ankle decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The decision also noted that some of the issues are related to a service-connected lumbar spine disorder, but these secondary claims have not been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot pes planus, right ankle osteoarthritis, and right ankle surgical scar were remanded due to the need for further development.,No effective date was assigned as the claims arose prior to August 9, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than January 7, 2016 for the award of service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and left ankle disability have been denied.,An effective date of January 7, 2016 has been assigned for the award of service connection for right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle disability and bilateral pes planus due to a lack of current disabilities, as well as insufficient evidence linking any diagnosed conditions to service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle, right ankle, and low back disabilities. The issues of service connection for hip strain and limitation of rotation are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral ankle disability and TDIU due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service, despite the Veteran's assertions.

The Veteran's right and left knee DJD with shin splints and exertional compartment syndrome were granted a combined 40 percent rating from May 29, 2012 to May 28, 2017.,A separate 10 percent rating was assigned for the left ankle sprain. The Veteran's left shoulder remote AC joint separation with limitation of motion received a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, the left knee disability is not service-connected, and the hearing loss and tinnitus are also not service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle strain, left ankle strain, low back muscle strain, and right knee strain were previously denied in October 2012. New evidence submitted since then did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability was also previously denied in June 2013. The new evidence received since that decision does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that the issues of entitlement to service connection for left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, left foot, and right foot disabilities must be remanded due to additional development being required.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition, hypertension, bilateral knee conditions, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, left elbow condition, right elbow condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, and left and right knee conditions. The new evidence submitted since previous denials is considered material as it relates to the basis of the prior final denial.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder, left ankle, low back, and bilateral hand disabilities due to an undiagnosed illness. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported symptoms of pain in these areas since his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his left ankle and lower extremity conditions. The claims will be reviewed again with additional development, including obtaining medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and need for a new VA examination. The Veteran's left ankle injury is being reviewed again as there are conflicting opinions on its etiology.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's bilateral ankle disability, pes planus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right and left knee disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle condition, bilateral knee condition, and bilateral hip condition due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ring finger volar plate fracture and a right ankle condition, finding that there is no current diagnosis of disability related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for left shoulder, right hand, and left ankle disabilities due to the Veteran's failure to attend scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining inpatient hospital records from Coleman Kaserne in Germany related to the Veteran's service. The issues of service connection for a left ankle disability, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and/or major depressive disorder), and TDIU are all being remanded.