Ankle decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been granted, with a 10% rating assigned for each condition. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection and TDIU prior to June 1, 2015 are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's osteoarthritis and knee disabilities. Further examination is required.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, but no higher. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a higher rating for his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service records do not show any left ankle or left knee disability. The Board denied the claims for service connection.,For his right knee condition, the Veteran was granted a compensable evaluation of 30 percent.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and a claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to complications from back surgery.

The Veteran's left and right foot disabilities have been granted a 30 percent rating, but no higher. Separate ratings of 20 percent each were also granted for limited motion of the left ankle.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete examinations and unclear symptomology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in a combined rating of 100 percent, but none alone render him unemployable. Therefore, his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right ankle sprain residuals and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome due to inadequate VA examinations in previous remands. The case is being returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has granted annual clothing allowances for the Veteran's right and left ankle braces due to their tendency to wear out or tear his shoes, which are used to treat service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral eye disability, heart disability, erectile dysfunction, prostate disability, urinary disability, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and left foot disability. The Board found that these disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for gunshot wound residuals of the right and left ankles, as well as PTSD, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in rating beyond 10 percent for both ankle conditions and 70 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death prior to a final decision. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40% and his left and right ankle disabilities are both rated at 10%. The claims for increased ratings remain pending as the AOJ has remanded them.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's left ankle disability, including denying a rating prior to July 27, 2020. The highest schedular rating available based on limitation of motion is 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on several service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hip, right knee, and ankle disabilities due to pain that may be related to his service-connected left knee disability and lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased disability evaluations were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection due to pre-existing bilateral pes planus, arthritis of the lumbar spine, residuals of a contusion of the left arm with nerve damage, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, right knee strain, stress reaction of the left ankle, and stress reaction of the right ankle.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn all remaining issues associated with the appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing current disability during the appeal period.