Ankle decisions — 2020

The appeal was dismissed because the Veteran did not submit a timely and adequate substantive appeal regarding his claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent disabling from January 29, 2007, to December 18, 2007, and from February 1, 2008, for left ankle instability status post reconstruction.

The Board granted service connection for right and left ankle arthritis effective June 14, 2000. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service complaints of bilateral ankle pain.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating for PTSD and service connection for erectile dysfunction, right knee disorder, bilateral hip disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and a left thigh scar have been withdrawn. The claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss has been denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss disability. Service connection for respiratory disorders (COPD, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia) related to asbestos and environmental exposures has been granted.

The Veteran's IBS is granted a 30 percent rating.,Service connection for COPD and sleep disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Joint pain of ankles, knees, lower legs, shoulders, arms, and wrists are remanded due to insufficient evidence.,GERD and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to insufficient evidence.,No effective date provided as the decision is for appeal purposes only.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, low back disability, and other joint disabilities due to new evidence received since previous decisions. The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic fatigue syndrome is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to unclear dates of active duty and Reserve service, and a need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities were denied as the effective dates cannot be earlier than May 4, 2012.

The appeal for an initial compensable rating for a left ankle scar is dismissed. The restoration of the 20 percent disability rating for left ankle sprain with degenerative joint disease, effective June 1, 2018, is granted. The issue of a higher rating for the left ankle sprain with degenerative joint disease is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected left and right ankle disabilities have been denied. The Board has also remanded the Veteran’s claim seeking service connection for a bilateral foot disability, to include arthritis, bone spurs, and neuromas, due to inadequate VA medical opinions. Additionally, the Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of PTSD, alcoholism, and TDIU. The AOJ is instructed to obtain SSA records and any additional medical records before proceeding with these matters.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee, left ankle, and right wrist disabilities have been granted. His lumbar spine disability has been increased to a 40 percent rating from August 25, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no new and material evidence to reopen them. The effective dates for some of these claims were not established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have right ear hearing loss that constitutes a disability for VA compensation purposes. The left ear hearing loss was not manifest in service or within one year of separation from service, and is not otherwise related to service.,The issue of entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disability is remanded due to lack of clarity regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to their secondary relationship to a service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with additional evidence and possibly an examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for a bilateral ankle disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, as well as the TDIU claim due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for higher pension rates and special monthly pension based on his spouse's disability was denied due to income limits, while the initial service connection for disabilities was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left ankle strain, hallux valgus of the left foot, seborrheic dermatitis, and thoracolumbar spondylosis, have increased in severity since his last VA examinations. The Board has ordered new VA examinations to assess these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for Diabetes Mellitus Type II and remanded the issue of service connection for Degenerative Joint Disease of the Right Ankle.

The Board has remanded the claims for esophageal erosions, right knee arthritis, and left ankle arthritis due to insufficient evidence or lack of a nexus between service connection and these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further verification of his periods of active duty, inactive duty training (ACDUTRA), and in-service diagnoses.