Ankle decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not been shown to preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. Therefore, the claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including GERD, Adjustment Disorder, Degenerative Disc Disease of the thoracic spine, Right ankle strain, and Tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from March 29, 2012, but no earlier. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, qualifying for TDIU. She is also entitled to SMC at the housebound rate due to her PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for a cognitive disorder due to mild TBI is dismissed. The appeals for right ankle and low back conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected right peroneal palsy with foot drop did not contribute to his death, which was caused by a motorcycle accident.,The Veteran’s total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) lasted for approximately 5 years before he died.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and left knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and her military service.,Both the left ankle and left knee disabilities were found to be not related to service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals, along with other service-connected conditions, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. A rating of 40 percent for prostate cancer residuals is granted, effective from August 15, 2016, and TDIU is also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for a right ankle disability due to inadequate examination and incomplete medical records. The Veteran must be provided with a new VA examination to determine if his current right ankle disability is related to his active service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was granted a 20 percent rating for the period prior to November 14, 2019. The claim for a higher rating after that date is denied.

The Board denied service connection for pes planus, plantar fasciitis (to include as secondary to pes planus), and a left ankle disorder due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied service connection for left and right ankle conditions as the evidence did not show chronicity in service, continuity of symptomatology, or a relationship to service.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted, and a rating of 10 percent is assigned for left ankle disability. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right ankle disability, and eye disability (refractive error) is denied.

The Veteran's left ankle degenerative joint disease is now rated at 20 percent, effective January 9, 2012. Her left knee degenerative joint disease remains rated at 20 percent since September 23, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability. The claims of service connection for left ankle and bilateral hip disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence. Service connection for TBI residuals is also remanded.

The Veteran withdrew all of the issues on appeal, including those related to service connection for various disabilities. The Board has no further jurisdiction in these matters.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right hip, left hip, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities due to new evidence received since the September 2016 rating decision. The claims are now pending again.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of her right ankle disability due to incomplete records and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to new evidence submitted after an appeal was initiated.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left shoulder, right shoulder, left and right ankle, and cervical spine disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to discuss certain issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability, including rheumatoid arthritis, finding that there is no current evidence of such a condition and thus denying presumptive or secondary service connection.