Ankle decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was granted, and he is now rated at 20% for his left ankle disability. The appeal regarding an increased rating for the left ankle disability is still pending.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased rating for his right ankle condition and for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance have been dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,Specifically, the Board is requesting that SSA provide any underlying medical records used in their March 2012 decision on the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular rating requirements for a TDIU prior to December 20, 2017. The Board found that he was actually working at that time and therefore denied his claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of her knee and ankle disabilities, as well as a painful hernia scar, have been denied. The criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA rating schedules were not met.

The Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions have been granted.,The reopened claims include headaches, sinusitis (previously addressed as sinus condition with hay fever and bronchitis), chronic fatigue, right ankle Achilles tendonitis, bilateral hearing loss, and skin rash. These claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examinations and needs additional information on the Veteran's left ankle disability.

The Veteran's death was caused by a myocardial infarction, which the Board finds is at least as likely as not due to his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.,The Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU from May 2, 2011.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection of right foot disorder, left foot disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and bilateral hip disorder need further development due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is being remanded for further examination and rating. Other service connection claims are also being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The issues include sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, lumbar spine disability, bilateral hip disability, hypertension, loss of use of both hands, and left ankle tibial nerve neuritis.

The Veteran's initial rating of 30 percent for post-surgical right foot drop associated with a right ankle fracture is being remanded due to the need for an adequate examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hand numbness, left ankle strain with instability, sinusitis, migraine headaches, and a heart condition with chest pain. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a left hip disability, low back strain, and left ankle disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for chest pain, including costochondritis, as the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that it began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service disease, injury, or event.,The Board remanded issues regarding cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and left foot and ankle disabilities for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral ankle strain and bilateral foot osteoarthritis, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected knee disorders due to cold exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right ankle and right knee degenerative joint disease as they did not comply with the requirements in Sharp v. Shulkin, 29 Vet. App. 26 (2017).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and right ankle disability, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction. The Board also denied his claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for low back disability.,There is no evidence to support the Veteran’s assertions that his current disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran is currently employed and has not been found unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.