Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for separate ratings for neurologic abnormalities associated with his service-connected cervical and thoracic spine disabilities, finding that there are no neurological abnormalities associated with these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an equipment purchase of an adjustable king or queen size bed and ergonomic chair through the Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E) program, finding that such purchases were not necessary to achieve his independent living goal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disorders, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and DJD of multiple joints, as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability. The VA is instructed to obtain updated treatment records from private physicians R. M. and R. R.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions regarding obtaining a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's left ankle disability is related to service.

The Board has upheld the severance of service connection for LLE radiculopathy and denied a higher initial disability rating. The claims for left foot, hip, ankle, and knee disabilities are remanded due to lack of complete medical records.

The Board has dismissed all issues on appeal except for the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.,The appellant withdrew her appeals regarding bilateral great toe and ankle disabilities, right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, arterial reconstruction of the left lower extremity, and depression.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disorders, including posttraumatic arthritis of the right ankle, left ankle, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee. As such, the Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.

The Board denied service connection for right and left elbow disorders, granted a 20% rating for degenerative joint disease of the left ankle from November 19, 2019, but denied an increased rating for degenerative arthritis and joint disease of the left knee status post arthroscopy.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, low back, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression), bilateral hip disability, and bilateral leg disabilities. However, as these conditions are not established by competent medical evidence, service connection itself is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of right ankle, left ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.,There is no evidence showing that any of these disabilities were incurred or aggravated during service.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the left ankle is rated at a 20 percent disability rating, and his left ankle surgical scar is rated at a noncompensable (0%) disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disorder, claimed as nerve damage, finding that it is not secondary to his service-connected left ankle tendonitis and is otherwise unrelated to active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to deficiencies in previous VA examinations and unclear criteria for evaluating left ankle instability.

The Board has granted reconsideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right knee condition and ankle conditions, as well as an acquired psychiatric disability. The claims are remanded due to new evidence received after the initial denial.

The Veteran's bilateral eye condition, back condition, left ankle condition, and right ankle condition have been denied. The Veteran was granted a 10% rating for his left hip strain (residual of partial rupture, left hamstring) effective March 5, 2020.,Bilateral hearing loss has been denied prior to August 17, 2016 and granted from that date onwards.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vitiligo and bilateral ankle disability have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and clarification of medical opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms cause occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.,Low back strain with degenerative changes causes loss of forward flexion to 90 degrees prior to September 20, 2019 and to 60 degrees thereafter.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional information and a VA examination regarding whether the Veteran's left ankle disability is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including right ankle strain, right knee strain with degenerative arthritis, left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, and bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to obtain informed consent records related to the Veteran's August 2017 right ankle fusion procedure. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation of right foot scars, entitlement to a temporary total evaluation from June 1, 2018, for right ankle strain status-post fusion, and entitlement to special monthly compensation at the 's' rate are all pending.