Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hand tremor, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right and left ankle disorders, right and left restless leg syndromes, and right and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome. The decision is based on the absence of a current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a bilateral foot disability, left clavicle fracture, and various knee and ankle conditions, rated at 80 percent combined, do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and experience. The Board denied the claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain medical opinions regarding service connection, rating criteria, and range of motion measurements.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, neck, right knee, and left ankle disorders should be remanded due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is granted a 20 percent rating throughout the appeal period, while his left knee disability and instability are denied higher ratings. The decision also grants separate 10 percent ratings for left knee instability.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decreases in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, warranting a 10% rating prior to November 28, 2018. A 30% rating was granted beginning from that date.,For the period before April 11, 2016, the Veteran's right ankle sprain with degenerative joint disease resulted in occupational and social impairment warranting a 10% rating. For the period after April 11, 2016, his condition warranted a 20% rating.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are granted with a 10% rating prior to April 16, 2019. Ratings for the right wrist, left ankle, left ear hearing loss, costochondritis-mid sternal (chest pain), and unspecified depressive disorder remain denied.,Service connection for heartburn and gastrointestinal disability is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the ankles, knees, and hips. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported pain during service which later developed into diagnosed arthritis.

The Veteran's lumbar myositis and right ankle injury residuals have been restored to their respective ratings of 40 percent and 20 percent, effective June 12, 2015.,A separate 10 percent rating for right ankle instability has also been granted.

The Veteran's left ankle DJD, status-post fracture was granted an initial rating of 20 percent prior to December 18, 2019. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted a non-compensable rating prior to April 26, 2017; a 20 percent rating from April 26, 2017 until May 4, 2018; and a 10 percent rating since May 4, 2018.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient diagnoses and nexus opinions regarding the Veteran's knee/leg and ankle disabilities, which are related to service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. Service connection for arthritis and a right ankle disorder is denied.

The Veteran's initial higher ratings for his right knee and left ankle disabilities were denied. The case was remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain was denied. However, he received a separate 10% disability rating for left ankle instability associated with his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, but no higher, due to marked limited motion throughout the appeal period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and right hip disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and her service-connected left foot and lumbar spine disabilities.,Additionally, the Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and left knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to her service-connected left foot and/or lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to re-adjudicate his claim for service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that new evidence submitted did not warrant readjudication.

The Veteran's right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain is productive of marked limitation of motion and has been granted a 20 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disorder is not the primary cause of his back, left knee, and left ankle disorders. However, these conditions are secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.