Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis. The claims for a bilateral ankle condition and hypertension are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for denying a rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle sprain with distal fibula fracture. The Veteran is required to undergo a new VA examination to address concerns mentioned in the Joint Motion for Partial Remand (JMPR).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, effective February 14, 2011. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, eye disability, general arthralgia, right ankle disability, and right knee disability due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted a 20% rating, effective October 29, 2020.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted a 20% rating, effective September 21, 2019. The left leg radiculopathy is also granted a 20% rating for the period since August 11, 2011.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as he does not have ankylosis or severe limitation of motion.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal, respiratory, psychiatric, hearing loss and tinnitus, lumbar spine, shoulder, hand, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right ankle disability, finding that there is no current diagnosis and thus not meeting the cornerstone element of service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current arthritis and his military service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at a 20 percent evaluation, the maximum available for marked limited motion.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied service connection for right knee, bilateral ankle, back, and hypertension disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C, right hip condition, right knee condition, right ankle condition, and right foot condition due to new evidence received since previous decisions. The claims are reopened but further evaluation is needed.

The Veteran's disability rating for residuals of left ankle sprains was increased to 20 percent from June 25, 2008 to October 23, 2008. The rating for DDD of the lumbar spine remains unchanged.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating for a left hip disability and service connection for a right ankle disability are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right foot disability and right ankle limitation of motion were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and bilateral knee and ankle conditions are not service-connected.,The Veteran's respiratory condition, cervical spine condition, and erectile dysfunction may be related to his military service.