Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disorder was not permanently worsened by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral ankle, foot, and knee disabilities are not related to his service-connected right shoulder disability.,The Board also noted that the onset of these disabilities is not within one year after discharge from service.

The Board denied service connection for back, left ankle, bilateral knee, and right hip disabilities as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by service.,The Veteran's current diagnoses of degenerative arthritis in his knees, ankles, and hips are considered to be due to natural aging and excess weight rather than being proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected feet conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle strain is related to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her lumbosacral strain, right ankle, left lower radiculopathy and right wrist conditions, are considered one disability with a combined rating of 60 percent. The Board finds that the functional impairment associated with these disabilities precludes the Veteran from securing substantially gainful employment.

An effective date of May 28, 2009 is granted for service connection of a left hip disability. Service connection for right and left ankle disabilities are denied. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to incomplete information provided by his attorney regarding a claim submitted with Mr. Lloyd Finklea in 1992.

The Board denied service connection for a right foot disability (other than pes planus), finding no evidence of chronic disease in service or within the applicable presumptive period, and concluding that there was insufficient medical nexus to establish a relationship between any current right foot disability and active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria to be considered a disability for VA purposes.,There is no evidence of current hip and ankle disabilities during the appeal period, and service connection cannot be granted based on this.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, resulting in the grant of TDIU. The claims for respiratory disorder and sleep apnea are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptoms since service and concluding that his current condition is not causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right ankle sprain was denied because he failed to report for a necessary VA examination, and the Board found that the missed examination was necessary to establish entitlement to the benefit sought.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 7, 2010.

The Veteran's application to reopen her sleep apnea claim is granted, and she is entitled to an effective date prior to October 31, 2015 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the etiology of her sleep apnea and to assess the current severity of her PTSD, cluster headaches, right foot heel spur, left ankle sprain with heel spurs, and patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee.

The Board dismissed all appeals as the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete examinations and lack of consideration of certain evidence. The Veteran will have an opportunity to submit additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for rhinitis, sleep apnea, and a low back condition. The claims for right knee pain, left knee pain, right ankle condition, left ankle condition, right shoulder condition, and right bicep condition are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, left knee, right knee, right ankle, and peripheral neuropathy prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to outstanding VA treatment records from the Columbia VA Medical Center.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations.