Ankle decisions — 2020

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death. The Board found that there is no evidence linking pancreatic or rectal cancer to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cervical and lumbar spine conditions, pes planus, radiculopathies of the upper and lower extremities, and left ankle sprain, are found to preclude her from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied the reopening of a previously denied claim for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, as the additional VA treatment records did not relate the current right ankle complaints to active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic right and left knee disorders are denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic right and left ankle disorders are remanded.

The Veteran's post-operative residuals of fractured left tibia and fibula with left ankle strain and degenerative changes are rated at 20 percent, effective October 17, 2016. The initial compensable rating for scars of the lower left extremity is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, right knee, and right ankle disabilities. The increased rating claim for lumbar spurring and spondylosis with degenerative arthritis is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to new evidence received since the last SSOC in September 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for bilateral hammer toes and right foot hallux valgus, left lower extremity shin area varicosities, and left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to incomplete information in the examination reports. Additional development is needed to clarify the source of the Veteran's foot swelling and its impact on his ability to ambulate, as well as the frequency and severity of flare-ups of his varicose veins.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn regarding the right ankle fracture. The Board has remanded cases for further examination and review of medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability are being remanded for further examination and opinion.,It is unclear if the Veteran's current heart conditions are related to her active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a lipoma removal from the top of his head has been granted. His claims for left and right ankle disabilities, excluding Achilles tendonitis, have also been granted with effective dates based on when he first filed his initial claim. The Veteran's depressive disorder and obstructive sleep apnea are found to be related to his service-connected conditions, and his headaches are secondary to these disorders. Service connection has not been established for anemia or right knee chondromalacia.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for left ankle and foot disabilities, PTSD, L5-S1 disc rupture, and resection of hemorrhoids. Additional evidence is needed, particularly from VA treatment records and SSA disability compensation records.

The Veteran's right ankle disorder is granted a 20% rating. Service connection for bilateral knee and low back disorders are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and disability ratings have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals in April 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected erectile dysfunction is not caused by his diabetes mellitus, type 2. The Board denied the claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right ankle strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of shin disabilities (left and right lower extremities), right ankle disability, and sinus disability. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis or link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to September 28, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to consider whether a temporary total rating for convalescence beyond October 31, 2016, for the residuals of right knee surgery should be granted and if so, whether TDIU should also be granted. Additional development is needed as there are records from an infectious disease specialist that have not been obtained.

The Board has denied service connection for the Veteran's right ankle condition due to insufficient evidence linking it to his active duty service. The left ankle claim is remanded for a new opinion.

The Veteran's initial rating for ischemic heart disease is granted at a 10 percent level. The Veteran's TBI with migraine headaches is also granted, but only at the noncompensable (zero percent) level. Other service-connected disabilities are remanded.