Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral ankle, left knee, and low back disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for avascular necrosis of the left ankle was granted, and a 20 percent rating has been assigned since October 2002. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to July 9, 2009.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, lower back disability, cervical spine disability, and arthritis have been granted service connection. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder has also been granted service connection. However, the Veteran's yeast infection secondary to CPAP therapy for sleep apnea remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral color blindness, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and military service.,For the period on appeal, the Veteran's right ankle disability was rated at 10 percent. The Board found that it did not warrant an increased rating as his symptoms were within the scope of the existing 10 percent rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the increased rating for lumbar spine disability and service connection claims for left shoulder, vision problems, sinusitis, muscle spasms, migraine headaches, and ankle sprains. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's lumbar spine, left ankle, and right heel conditions due to insufficient information regarding flare-ups in medical examinations. The issues include increased ratings for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for initial ratings and effective dates due to incomplete development. The VA examinations were not reviewed by the AOJ before a supplemental statement of the case was issued.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a bilateral ankle condition due to incomplete VA treatment records and outstanding private medical records. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder is denied as the effective date cannot be earlier than August 7, 2017.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral ankle disabilities are remanded as there was no formal or informal claim received prior to August 7, 2017.,The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee is granted and the issue is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for service connection for a sleep disorder, increased ratings for various disabilities, and remanded issues. The Veteran remains entitled to further development on the remaining claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left ankle arthritis, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on moderate limitation of motion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of compliance with prior remands for a VA examination, and the Veteran is scheduled for another one.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain and old lateral malleolus fracture have been rated based on their current manifestations, with no higher ratings granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the partial amputation of the left middle finger. The issues of service connection for a broken jaw, left ankle disorder, right eye disorder, and low back disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for a left ankle skin disability and chronic upper body pain have been denied. The low back disability claim is being remanded for further development.,Service connection has not been established for the Veteran’s claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including right shoulder disorder, knee disorders, ankle disorders, foot disorders, respiratory disorder, and upper extremity neuropathy. The remand requires additional medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's right ankle condition, finding that the evidence did not support ankylosis and thus no higher rating was warranted under Diagnostic Code 5271.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right ankle disability, finding that the evidence did not show more than moderate limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to higher disability ratings for right ankle, sacroiliac joint, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for a right ankle sprain due to insufficient development and examination.