Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right ankle disability and skin condition due to insufficient development. The issues will be reviewed again with consideration of all applicable laws and regulations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for her ankle conditions due to inadequate examinations and insufficient reasoning in previous decisions.

The Veteran's left ankle DJD has been rated at 10 percent, and his sural nerve neuritis of the left lower extremity is rated at 20 percent. Both conditions are remanded for further evaluation.,Service connection claims for a left hip disorder, right hip disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, anemia, and TDIU prior to July 16, 2018 remain pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate consideration of relevant lay evidence and VA examination opinions. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his left ankle disability, finding that a rating in excess of 20 percent was not warranted. The effective date remains unchanged at November 19, 2019.

The Veteran's mood disorder with depressive features is granted as secondary to his service-connected right ankle sprain and post-surgical procedure residuals. The other issues are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's left ankle sprain with calcaneal spurs, Achilles tendonitis, and degenerative arthritis status-post ankle ligament reconstruction is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, which resulted in marked limitation of motion prior to May 3, 2018, is granted an initial rating of 20 percent. A higher rating is denied as the evidence does not show ankylosis or malunion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, left foot, and left hip disabilities due to an in-service gunshot wound. The case is now before the VA examiner to determine if these conditions are related to his service-connected disability or have been aggravated by it.

The Board has denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral leg condition, low back condition, and bilateral ankle condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a left ankle disability, tendonitis of the left hip, and a left hand disability are remanded. The TDIU claim is granted effective January 1, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible reports of in-service noise exposure and continuous symptoms since service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left ankle disabilities, finding that they do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating for his ankle disabilities, as well as granted a TDIU based on multiple service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's left knee strain with tendonitis and degenerative arthritis has been rated at 10 percent, while his chronic left ankle sprain with internal derangement is rated at 20 percent. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right knee disorder and low back disorder.,The Veteran’s right knee condition was found to be unrelated to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran failed to report for VA examinations, which resulted in denial of his right ankle disability claim. His left ankle, lumbar spine, bilateral hand, and erectile dysfunction claims were also denied due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to obtain medical records. The issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for left ankle joint replacement, post tibia-fibula fracture, and service connection for lumbar spine disability are being returned to the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the bilateral ankles, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected right wrist disability. The decision is based on a relative equipoise in the evidence regarding whether the current diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is due to silicone implants surgically inserted during treatment for his service-connected right wrist disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting right ankle disability worsened during his active duty service, and this worsening is presumed to be due to service. Therefore, the Veteran is granted service connection for aggravation of a preexisting right ankle disability.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's ankle and elbow disabilities. The VA will need to provide additional evaluations to determine if these conditions are related to service.