Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that further development is necessary due to outstanding treatment records and remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including ankle, hip, and shoulder conditions. The Veteran will need new examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The left ankle and bilateral foot disorders are being remanded for further evaluation.,Service connection is being remanded for the Veteran's left ankle disorder and bilateral foot disorder, including hammer toes, hallux valgus, and degenerative arthritis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various foot, ankle, knee, shoulder, and anxiety conditions due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The issues have been reopened.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right leg and right ankle disabilities due to incomplete records. The RO is instructed to attempt to obtain relevant hospital treatment records from Army hospitals in Fort Ord, California (1954/1956) and Grafenwoehr, Germany (1956).

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and incomplete record, including a lack of discussion regarding when ankylosis occurred during the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, heart condition, hypertension, right arm shaking (Gulf War Syndrome), left arm shaking (Gulf War Syndrome), dizziness, pain/tenderness on jaw, cheek bones and forehead (myalgia), headaches, sinusitis, non-allergic vasomotor rhinitis, PTSD with associated depression and anxiety, right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, trochanteric pain syndrome of the right hip, trochanteric pain syndrome of the left hip, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, degenerative arthritis of the right ankle with ankle strain and calcaneal spur, left ankle strain, cervical spondylosis, lumbosacral strain, erectile dysfunction (Gulf War Syndrome), and tonsillitis have all been denied.,The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, heart condition, hypertension, right arm shaking (Gulf War Syndrome), left arm shaking (Gulf War Syndrome), dizziness, pain/tenderness on jaw, cheek bones and forehead (myalgia), headaches, sinusitis, non-allergic vasomotor rhinitis, PTSD with associated depression and anxiety, right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, trochanteric pain syndrome of the right hip, trochanteric pain syndrome of the left hip, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, degenerative arthritis of the right ankle with ankle strain and calcaneal spur, left ankle strain, cervical spondylosis, lumbosacral strain, erectile dysfunction (Gulf War Syndrome), and tonsillitis have all been denied.

The Board has granted an increased disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability, effective from the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's left ankle degenerative joint disease has been granted an initial rating of 20 percent, effective June 22, 2010. The disability is characterized by X-ray evidence of arthritis, pain, and functional loss producing marked limited motion of the ankle.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability and residuals of a testicle injury, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric condition, along with other disabilities, renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of March 9, 2016. Effective April 10, 2017, the issue of TDIU is dismissed due to mootness.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to outstanding VA treatment records, particularly from the Orlando VAMC.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities have been rated at 10% each, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are consistent with moderate limitation of motion.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was previously rated at 10 percent prior to October 7, 2019. The Board has now granted a 20 percent rating for the period from October 7, 2019 onwards.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU due to incomplete information and need for additional examinations. The right shoulder disability claim is related to Gulf War exposure, while the back and ankle disabilities are being examined further.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective October 23, 2008. However, the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date is remanded to determine if he was unemployable due to service-connected disabilities prior to that date.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of four issues related to service connection for various ankle, ring finger, foot, and knee disabilities due to the Veteran's election into the modernized review system.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder and remanded the left ankle/left foot disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 20% prior to November 18, 2011, and 40% as of that date. A separate 30% rating is granted for a severe left foot injury from June 14, 2010, to November 18, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been remanded due to procedural issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee and left ankle disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a direct or secondary relationship to service. The Veteran's current conditions have been attributed to post-service injuries, including a motorcycle accident in 1992 and a slip on stairs injury in 2007.