Ankle decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions. The SMC claim is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral pes planus, left sensory neuropathy of the sural nerve, degenerative arthritis of the spine, left ankle sprain, and pseudofolliculitis) preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation for the period prior to October 19, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle, left knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to inadequate examination in September 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disorder, right knee disorder, and right ankle disorder due to insufficient evidence in the record. The decision on the left ear hearing loss disability claim is denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for low back strain, left ankle sprain, and mechanical right ankle pain were denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection were established.

An evaluation greater than 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease is being remanded.,An evaluation greater than 10 percent for bilateral Achilles tendonitis with limitation of ankle motion prior to July 20, 2016 is being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis and posttraumatic arthritis of the right ankle, as well as rheumatoid arthritis of the bilateral knees and shoulders. Service connection was denied for osteoarthritis of the left ankle and wrists.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, rated at 20 percent since August 31, 2011, is denied as his condition does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial rating increase were denied as he failed to appear at scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining complete service treatment records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee condition, right ankle sprain, left ankle sprain, right shoulder injury (including pain in the scapular area), right rib cage injury, and head injury are all remanded to obtain addendum opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle and right knee disabilities, finding that the conditions were aggravated by a service-connected right ankle disability. The decision also reopened claims for these disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left ankle disability is denied as the evidence does not support an increase in the rating beyond 30 percent prior to July 18, 2019 and 40 percent since that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board denied the claim for a TDIU as his disabilities did not meet the regulatory schedular rating requirements of 38 C.F.R. § 4.16 (a).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left ankle degenerative joint disease, right hip replacement, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), painful surgical scar due to hip replacement, lumbar radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and tinnitus, have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for left ankle sprain as new and material evidence was not received, and the current evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's right ankle osteoarthritis is granted service connection. The issues regarding her left hip and left knee conditions are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and a bilateral foot disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his active service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the issues of service connection for ankle fracture, knee condition, and heart condition have not been returned to the Board.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for Diabetes Mellitus Type II, a right ankle disability, and memory loss. The evidence does not support finding that these conditions began during his military service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to her failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The Board has determined that these matters must be remanded to reschedule the examinations.