Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right hip and right ankle disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. The AOJ must obtain new, compliant examination reports that include separate sets of range of motion test results for both active and passive motion in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development due to the need for additional medical evidence and clarification of his disability ratings.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for residuals of left ankle fracture and hip dislocation were denied. The claim for a compensable rating for hip flexion was also denied. However, the Veteran received an increased rating of 10% for hip extension effective March 5, 2020.

The Veteran's appeals for initial increased ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed. The appeal seeking service connection for a right knee condition, a right ankle condition, and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for lumbosacral strain has been remanded.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's left ankle fracture with traumatic arthritis, effective from July 28, 2015 (the date of his initial claim), and found that this rating is appropriate based on marked limitation of motion in the ankle.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development being required, including a vocational rehabilitation evaluation that assesses the Veteran's current limitations and their effect on his ability to perform in his occupational field. The issue of entitlement to VR&E benefits is still pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include right knee, left knee, left ankle, psychiatric disabilities (including PTSD), and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Veteran's left ankle condition was not manifested by pain or marked limited motion prior to March 19, 2015. From that date forward, the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.,For the period from May 10, 2011 to December 24, 2013, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or maintain a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right knee and right ankle disabilities, specifically whether these conditions are related to her service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to additional development being required.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right and left ankle disorders, lumbar spine disorder, sciatica, knee disorders, and headache disorder (migraines) due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is asked to provide information about any relevant VA or private treatment.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and remanded several other issues including ear hearing loss, neck, upper back, lower back, bilateral knee, ankle arthritis, foot/toe disabilities, vertigo, Meniere's syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to PTSD), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, a compensable rating for his residual right ankle surgical scar, and an increased evaluation for anxiety disability are all denied. The Veteran is already service-connected for these conditions.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected right ankle strain and a compensable rating for the service-connected right ankle cyst.

The Veteran's claims for right and left ankle disabilities were originally denied in November 1994 due to missing service treatment records. The VA received these records in January 2016, which led to a grant of service connection with an effective date of May 4, 2015. The Board granted earlier effective dates of May 3, 1994 for both disabilities based on the new evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle conditions, finding that there is no evidence of a direct or secondary relationship to his service-connected foot conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right ankle disorders, as well as right hearing loss disorder due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's nervous tics were found to be related to his service in the Southwest Asia theatre, and service connection for this condition is granted. The other issues on appeal are remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals for bilateral flatfeet and left ankle disorder. The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was granted, with service connection established based on in-service noise exposure. The claims for right great toe disorder, bilateral foot disorders (other than flatfeet), left knee disorder, and TBI are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for right shoulder injury, right elbow injury, and right hip injury. The claim for malignant melanoma on the left foot has been denied.,Service connection is established for right knee injury, right ankle disability (remanded), and left knee injury.