Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's right ankle disability remains rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow any substantially gainful employment since September 27, 2012. Effective as of that date, he is granted a TDIU and basic eligibility for DEA benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis has been denied as she does not have a current diagnosis of the condition.,The evidence submitted since the last final denial does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim of left ear hearing loss, and thus the application to reopen this claim is denied.

The Veteran's tuberculin condition, lumbosacral strain, sciatica of the left and right lower extremities, left ankle sprain, keloid boils, and acne are not service-connected as they do not meet the criteria for a disability.

Service connection is granted for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine. Service connection is denied for bilateral knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and identifying all pertinent treatment records. The Veteran's left ankle arthritis is not service-connected as it did not have its onset during his active service or was not otherwise etiologically related to such service. The left foot disability other than pes planus with hallux valgus remains on appeal.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left and right ankle sprains from July 25, 2011 to March 11, 2013, and May 31, 2013 to May 12, 2015 were granted at a 20% rating. The Veteran's initial ratings for left ankle sprain from May 13, 2015 are denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and increased rating claims, resulting in the dismissal of all issues.

The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is dismissed. The remaining issues of service connection for various shoulder, cervical spine, hip, knee, and ankle disabilities are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a vision disability, psychiatric disability, tinnitus, and right ankle degenerative joint disease. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate examinations.

The Veteran's vertigo and migraine headaches are granted as secondary to her service-connected right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's arthritis of the left wrist, right wrist, left hand, and lower extremities are remanded for further examination and opinion. Her Raynaud's syndromes and knee/ankle conditions are also remanded.

The Veteran's gout disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of definite impairment of health or three or more incapacitating exacerbations per year.

The Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, bilateral pes planus, hallux abductovalgus and degenerative arthritis, heloma molles (soft corns of the feet), residuals of a left ankle injury, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, and right knee disorder have been granted. The right knee disorder is considered postoperative residuals from an arthroscopy procedure.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right ankle disability and increased rating for right ankle disability due to new evidence or changes in symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his right ankle sprain and TDIU were denied because he failed to report for the necessary VA examinations without providing good cause.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a left ankle injury and insomnia disorder are both granted. The claim for residuals of a left ankle injury is denied, but the claim for insomnia disorder is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran submitted a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) for multiple issues addressed in a December 2016 rating decision. The appeal is now REMANDED to issue an appropriate Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various ankle and knee disabilities, as well as bilateral pes planus, due to conflicting medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis to his service-connected plantar fasciitis.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including sciatica, back disability, right hip and knee disabilities, cold injury residuals, PTSD, chronic sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, skin disorder of the feet, fibromyalgia, stroke with left-side balance impairment, headaches (migraines), degenerative bone disease, heart disability, muscle pain and soreness, and a left eye disability. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury, right ankle disability, and residuals of a left foot fracture, to include arthritis, functional loss, and broken toes. The Board found the Veteran's reported in-service injuries were not credible or persuasive.