Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining updated treatment records. The issues of rating left ankle disability, rating left knee disability, and service connection for right knee disability are all pending.

The Veteran's left knee instability is rated at 10 percent, and a separate rating of 10 percent for painful limitation of motion is granted.,A 20 percent rating for the right ankle disability is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of residuals of a left ankle injury, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The rating reduction from 20 percent to 10 percent for right thigh impairment was upheld.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected thoracolumbar spine, left ankle, and left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, right hip, and lumbar spine conditions as secondary to his service-connected left hip and left ankle disabilities. The evidence is at least evenly balanced in favor of these findings.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in addresses and living arrangements, as well as potential issues with service connection for various conditions. The appellant's status as a surviving spouse must be determined first before any other claims can proceed.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for additional records and further review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle and right knee disabilities, finding no current disability. The issues are remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus and right ankle disability due to insufficient evidence or further clarification is needed.

The Board denied service connection for a right leg disability, hypertension, and bilateral ankle disability. The issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's initial 20% rating for left ankle disability is granted. Service connection claims for chest, low back, and right hip disabilities are denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including left shoulder, neck, back, hip, foot, knee, esophageal (GERD), ankle, psychiatric (PTSD), and heart disorders. The Board found that these conditions were not related to active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities, including obtaining updated VA examinations to assess their current severity.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle, right ankle, and joint pain affecting the right shoulder, bilateral elbows, bilateral wrists, and bilateral ankles. The Veteran is asked to provide additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a left knee disorder due to lack of evidence and need for further examination.

Service connection for conjunctivitis as secondary to service-connected spongiotic dermatitis with psoriasis (skin disability) is granted.,Service connection for right ankle arthritis is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination of his service-connected lumbar spine, right hip, right ankle, and right knee disabilities. The issues include increased evaluations for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, hypertension, and sleep apnea. The right ankle disability is remanded.,Service connection was not granted for the left shoulder and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected knee and ankle disabilities have worsened since his last VA examination, necessitating new evaluations to determine appropriate disability ratings.