Ankle decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right ankle was granted, and he is now receiving a 40% disability rating effective June 1, 2015. The agent representative (M.W.) is entitled to 20% of the past-due benefits awarded in this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a left ankle disorder and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The right ankle disability, tendonitis and lateral collateral ligament sprain, as well as the right knee osteoarthritis and meniscal tear are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome, shin splints of the left leg, and residuals of degenerative arthritis of the right ankle. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the other issues.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and left foot arthritis with calcaneal spur are currently rated as noncompensable. The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for these conditions, but the right ankle disability and left ankle disability remain at 10 percent ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a lack of VA examinations. The Veteran is requested to undergo further examination and provide any additional medical records.

The Veteran's right ankle tendinitis is granted a 20 percent rating from February 22, 2010.,The Veteran’s left knee disability and instability are both rated at 10 percent since February 22, 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right shoulder disability and left ankle disability due to incomplete development of records, lack of nexus opinions based on service treatment records, and need for additional clarification from the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for right ankle limitation of motion was denied because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination, and no good cause was provided.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than July 27, 2012 for the grant of TDIU and DEA benefits. The Veteran was found to have met the criteria for eligibility for schedular consideration of TDIU since March 26, 2011, but his unemployability due to service-connected disabilities began in March 2011 if not sooner, which is more than one year prior to the filing of the TDIU application. As such, an earlier effective date for TDIU cannot be awarded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current right ankle disability clearly and unmistakably preexisted service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one needs to be scheduled for the Veteran's right ankle disability.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code (DC) 5271 for marked limitation of motion. The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for this condition.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his right ankle disability and left leg neuropathy.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee strain and remanded the issues of service connection for right ankle disorder and a compensable initial rating for right knee strain.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated as noncompensable prior to August 22, 2019, and rated as 10 percent disabled thereafter. The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding a rating in excess of 10 percent for right ankle disability after August 22, 2019, and service connection for left ankle disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for further development due to outstanding service personnel records related to his National Guard and/or Reserve service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was rated at 10 percent effective December 6, 2010.,An earlier effective date of December 6, 2010, for a 10 percent rating is granted.

The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected left ankle disability was denied prior to July 10, 2020. From July 10, 2020, the Veteran is granted a 20% disability rating.

Service connection is granted for a right shoulder disability.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hand, wrists, hip, knee, elbow, ankle, and foot disabilities.,Service connection is denied for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, right leg disability, left leg disability, and right ankle disability. The Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his period of active duty.,Service connection was denied as the evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.