Ankle decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right ankle condition was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent, as the Veteran had moderate limitation of motion during flare-ups.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and increased ratings for various disabilities, including left ankle disorder, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, hypertension, right wrist disability, left-hand disability, stress fracture of the mid right anterior tibia with traumatic arthritis, right proximal dorsal foot, left mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty, hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right ankle disorder and sleep apnea due to duty to assist errors. The VA examinations need to be supplemented with additional opinions addressing whether any current right ankle disability or sleep apnea is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal through his authorized representative.

The Board has reopened the service connection claims for tinnitus, hip condition, and right ankle condition due to new and material evidence. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded for further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The issues include right shoulder condition, left ankle condition, costochondritis, degenerative disc disease, and sinusitis.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right knee arthritis, left knee and ankle arthritis, and hip injury are rated at 20 percent for the entire rating period.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient range of motion findings and potential flare-ups.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran had acoustic trauma during service. Service connection was denied for right and left knee disorders, left ankle disorder, and stomach disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection due to new and material evidence, including a January 2017 DBQ, a January 2020 private opinion, and a July 2017 VA examination. The Veteran's DJD of the left ankle is found to be related to his in-service ankle injury.

The Board has denied service connection for right ankle disorder, left shoulder disorder, and right shoulder disorder. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle condition is related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right ankle has been dismissed as his claim was granted in a prior rating decision. The cases for left ankle and knee degenerative arthritis, along with right knee residuals, are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, and ankle pain is currently rated at 50 percent prior to January 23, 2015, and the claim for an evaluation in excess of this rating is denied. Separate ratings are granted for left and right ankle calcaneal spurs from July 1, 2012 to January 22, 2015, and for left and right ankle degenerative arthritis from January 23, 2015 to February 26, 2019.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and need for a new VA opinion regarding service connection for gout, including of the right big toe, as secondary to service-connected degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the right ankle.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, bilateral ankle sprain, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, restless leg syndrome, and sinus bradycardia as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Board also remanded several issues including service connection for bilateral hip strain, initial rating for lumbar spine sprain, initial rating for left leg shin splints, initial rating for right leg shin splints, and initial rating for left knee sprain.

The Board has remanded three cases involving increased disability ratings for various conditions of the Veteran's left ankle, hip, and knee. The claims are being returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle disorder, bilateral hip disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral shoulder disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine scoliosis with mild degenerative disease and osteophytes, the rating in excess of 20 percent for post-operative right ankle Achilles tendon repair, and the rating in excess of 10 percent for both right and left knee patellar tendonitis were denied. Service connection for gout was also denied.,The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum allowed under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for osteoarthritis of the left knee was denied prior to March 11, 2019. A 20 percent disability rating is granted from that date forward. The Board also remanded several other service connection claims due to insufficient development.