Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral ankle disabilities, bilateral foot disabilities, and erectile dysfunction due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The decision also ordered a remand for an increased rating for tinea versicolor.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle disability and acquired psychiatric disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and active service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's left ankle disability, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and left ankle condition, including as secondary to his right ankle condition due to outstanding medical records and incomplete opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected prostatitis, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, and low back disability are all remanded for further examination and evaluation. Service connection for abdominal pain is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete examination and conflicting opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left ankle strain, service-connected plantar fasciitis, and right ankle strain.

The Board found that the reduction in rating from 20% to 10% for service-connected right ankle disability was improper and restored the original 20% rating.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no further action can be taken on this matter.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to February 24, 2014, or due solely to a single service-connected disability from February 24, 2014, to January 9, 2017, and after March 1, 2018.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for bilateral ankle disorders and athlete's foot due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran’s testimony suggests that his current conditions are related to his service, but further examination is needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support higher ratings or service connection for the conditions listed, including shin splints, knee pain, ankle pain, sciatic nerve impingement, and tibial stress fracture.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee strain, left ankle sprain, tinea pedis, hearing loss, and dry eye syndrome. The AOJ must consider new evidence before making a decision.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for vitiligo, sleep apnea, hypertension, bilateral plantar fasciitis, TMJ syndrome, right forearm laceration scar, Bechet's disease with intermittent flares of iritis, acne, mouth ulcers, and joint pain are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran's initial evaluations for left ring finger fracture and left little finger fracture are also being remanded.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 40 percent from December 1, 2012 to October 9, 2014 and February 1, 2015 to February 2, 2017. The rating remains at 40 percent for the period after April 1, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an ulcer has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The Board has remanded several issues including left shoulder, right wrist and right-hand disabilities, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, residuals of fractured ribs, bilateral hearing loss, gastritis, hemorrhoids, and migraine headaches for further development.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to concerns about the impact of all service-connected disabilities on employment, and a need for additional development including a new VA examination.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various orthopedic and neurological disabilities, including right ankle, left ankle, right foot, left foot, low back, right leg, left leg, neck, and left upper extremity neurological disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty for training.

The Veteran is granted separate 10 percent ratings for seronegative spondyloarthropathy and ankylosing spondylitis of the right foot and toes, left foot and toes, right shoulder, left shoulder, right hip, left hip, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, right hand and fingers, left hand and fingers, right wrist, left wrist, and right ankle and left ankle.,The combined ratings for these conditions exceed the rating assigned under DC 5003.

The Board denied service connection for COPD with pulmonary nodules, sinusitis, a back disorder, and a right ankle disorder. The Veteran's claims were not supported by current medical evidence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has granted an initial 30 percent rating for sinusitis prior to August 28, 2013. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating is denied since August 28, 2013. Other issues are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.