Ankle decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been withdrawn by his representative.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the merits of all issues on appeal, including service connection for various disabilities and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to VA treatment.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to lack of information about his employment history and duties. The Board requests the Veteran to provide an application for TDIU and any evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities alone render him unemployable.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to May 14, 2012. The evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities alone prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection for various disabilities as the Veteran did not allege specific errors of law or fact in the determinations.

The Veteran's right hand strain was granted an initial rating of 10 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The left ankle sprain with tarsal tunnel syndrome, status post-surgery, was granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the period prior to June 13, 2016, and a 20 percent rating for the period from June 13, 2016. The Veteran's hemorrhoids were denied as not compensable, and TDIU was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and left ankle disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show current diagnoses of these conditions.,For PTSD, the Veteran’s symptoms were deemed to be less severe than what would warrant a higher rating (100%), as he did not exhibit gross impairment in thought processes or communication, persistent delusions or hallucinations, danger of hurting self or others, intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living, disorientation to time or place, or memory loss for names of close relatives, occupation, or own name.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient information and need for additional medical opinions. The issues of PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, headaches, left foot disability, right foot disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are all remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and a left ankle disability, both of which are determined to be etiologically related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for hypertension, a rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle disability, or a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral syndrome. However, a 10 percent rating was granted for left knee degenerative joint disease effective January 7, 2013.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, which includes traumatic arthritis and a fracture, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has now granted an increased rating to 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, right knee disability, left ankle injury residuals, and herpes zoster due to potential service connection. Further development is needed including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the degree of functional loss during flareups and with repeated use over time. Additional development is needed.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain is currently rated at 10 percent prior to July 8, 2014 and 20 percent beginning from July 8, 2014. The cervical spine and right ankle disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.,Service connection for the lumbar strain disability and TDIU prior to January 4, 2013 is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities make him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various lower extremity disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions and need for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected Crohn’s disease with GERD, ED, and multiple arthralgias of the shoulders, knees, and left ankle is rated at 60 percent, which grants an increased rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic bilateral costochondritis is granted. The Board also remanded several other issues due to the need for additional evidence.

The appeal to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a torn ligament of the left foot and a left ankle fracture is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for left foot and/or left ankle disability, to include residuals of a torn ligament of the left foot and a left ankle fracture, is remanded.

The Board has found that a 10 percent rating is warranted for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability throughout the appeal period. The right and left ankle disabilities are remanded due to incomplete development of records.