Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for a right ankle, lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to insufficient examination reports. The Veteran's service records show complaints of pain during service but no current diagnosis or disability.

The Veteran's OSA was granted service connection as secondary to his PTSD.,His right and left ankle disabilities were denied due to lack of evidence linking them to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various leg and ankle disorders, as well as bilateral pes planus due to incomplete records from his Reserve service. The AOJ is directed to obtain all relevant records and consider whether additional examination or opinion is necessary.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, tailbone disability, bilateral knee condition, bilateral foot impairment, bilateral ankle disorder, right foot calcaneal spur, and residuals of a pilonidal cyst excision. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to her active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, cervical spine disability, and right ankle disability due to inadequate opinions regarding secondary service connection. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's facial palsy, left hip acetabular labral tear with mild osteoarthritis, and sinusitis have been granted service connection. The right ankle disorder and right foot disorder remain under review.,Service connection has been established for the Veteran’s facial palsy, left hip acetabular labral tear with mild osteoarthritis, and sinusitis.

The Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder are granted. The Veteran’s petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral ankle disability, but has remanded it to obtain a VA examination and opinions regarding whether his current ankle disabilities are related to service or service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left elbow and left ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The case is back before the Board.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for a left ankle disability, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and TDIU are being remanded due to the failure of VA examinations. The issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's claim for a 70 percent disability rating for an adjustment disorder from February 24, 2015 is granted. The appeal concerning secondary service connection for hip and ankle conditions related to IBS is also granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and a cervical spine disability, as well as for a compensable evaluation for onychomycosis of bilateral great toenails.,There is no current evidence of a right ankle disability or tinea pedis (fungal infection) affecting other parts of the Veteran's feet.

The Veteran's overpayment of VA compensation benefits is waived due to the validity of the debt and the determination that recovery would be against equity and good conscience.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for the claims of service connection for various conditions, including adult onset scoliosis, myofascial pain syndrome, syncopal syndrome episode, right wrist carpal tunnel, a chronic shoulder condition, cervical spondylosis, an acquired psychiatric disability, and tibialis tendonitis (left ankle).

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions did not have their onset during active service or within a year of separation, and thus denied service connection for all of his knee, ankle, foot, hip, shoulder, and cervical spine disorders.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was reduced from 20% to 10%, but the reduction is not proper. The RO has restored the 20% rating for the period between August 1, 2014 and December 18, 2014, and beginning March 1, 2015.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome was granted service connection, and his plantar fasciitis received a higher rating from February 12, 2015 to March 2, 2016, and from July 1, 2016 to October 27, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for hemorrhoids prior to November 14, 2013 or in excess of 20 percent thereafter. For his left ankle disorder, he was also denied a rating more than 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder with anxiety is September 17, 2015.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for limitation of flexion and abduction of her left hip are denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for rhinitis has been denied as there was no prior claim received before February 23, 2012.,The Veteran's initial rating for rhinitis is also denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.