Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's right ankle disability prior to September 24, 2019. The claim is denied for higher ratings for the right ankle and knee disabilities after that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's left foot and ankle conditions, specifically due to a lack of an examination for these issues. The Veteran served as a Security Specialist during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on remand are pending. The Board has granted an initial rating of 50 percent for migraine headaches, but the right ankle disability, psychiatric disability, esophageal reflux, IBS, insomnia, plantar fasciitis, ulcers, and cystic acne remain unresolved.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability has been reopened, and the appeal is granted to this extent. The claims for increased ratings for right ankle disability and bipolar disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as bilateral pes planus, are being remanded due to the need for VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle strain is secondary to his service-connected left foot disability and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for hip disabilities (left and right), malaria, knee disability (left), ankle disabilities (right and left), and onychomycosis of the toenails bilaterally.,Service connection was not established for any of these conditions due to lack of a current diagnosis or credible evidence linking them to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection, and his left ankle degenerative arthritis was rated at 20 percent. The right and left knee disabilities were denied increased ratings.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ankle gout, finding that it is not related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, bilateral ankle tendonitis, and sinusitis. The claims for a back disability, left shoulder disability (residuals of humeral head fracture), and headache disorder were denied as the evidence did not support a nexus to service. Service connection was also denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for a right ankle disability is granted. The appeal is granted to that extent only, and the case is remanded for further development regarding his other claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and further evidentiary review is required.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ankle degenerative joint disease (DJD) as it did not find a link between his current condition and his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand several claims for further evaluation, including a new VA examination for bilateral hearing loss and additional medical records for other conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the left ankle disability and whether it is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The right ankle rating is remanded for a new examination, while the left ankle claim requires an aggravation opinion.

The appeal for accrued benefits is dismissed as the appellant has been substituted in the Veteran's pending appeal, and the Veteran had a claim pending at his death.

The Board has dismissed the issues of whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for left ankle sprain, as well as the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability. The decision is not eligible for review under VA's modernized review system.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability, but the other issues on appeal are remanded.