Ankle decisions — 2021

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is granted service connection. The right ankle disability claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected hip disabilities and right ankle disability have been denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for left foot hammertoes and a left foot and/or left ankle disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not related to his active service.

The Veteran's TDIU is denied as his date of entitlement to a schedular TDIU is March 31, 2018. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the economic component of a TDIU prior to March 30, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of left ankle and tibia fractures has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a skin condition, sleep apnea, and joint pain due to incomplete examinations and failure to consider the Veteran's self-reported history.

The Board has found that additional development is needed before the claims for higher initial ratings for low back strain and residuals of left ankle fracture can be adjudicated on the merits. The issues are being remanded to allow for readjudication.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, right knee disorder, and right ankle disorder. The Board found that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.,The VA examiner noted that the Veteran’s neck pain began in 1992 after an accident during training exercises, but there were no complaints or diagnoses of a cervical spine condition until 2014.

The Board has remanded the case for a retrospective opinion on the Veteran's functional impairment due to service-connected disabilities prior to and around February 2012, and for referral of his request for TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) to the Director of Compensation Service.

The Board has decided one issue on appeal and remanded the remaining issues for further development. Additional development is necessary, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient examination findings. The Veteran's pain is being evaluated, along with any aggravation by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right ankle surgeries resulted in additional disability or worsening of existing symptoms. The VA will need to obtain a new examination and medical opinion from an orthopedic surgeon with expertise in performing ankle internal fixation surgery.

The Board denied service connection for left wrist and right ankle disabilities. It also denied increased ratings for left hip arthritis, right hip extension limitation, and right hip abduction limitation.,However, the Veteran was granted a 10% rating for left hip degenerative joint disease from October 13, 2015 to January 6, 2020, and a 20% rating for right hip flexion limitation on and after September 11, 2015. The Veteran's total unemployability prior to March 6, 2018 was also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various hand, joint pain, internal bleeding, PPD converter, ankle, and skin disorders have been denied as they are not considered chronic qualifying disabilities or medically unexplained multisymptom illnesses.

The Veteran's initial ratings for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee, lateral collateral ligament of the left ankle, and left middle finger mallet deformity are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right ankle disabilities as directly related to active service.

The Board has decided the case is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from October 4, 2005 through April 18, 2007 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left and right ankle achilles tendonitis with degenerative changes are currently rated as 20 percent disabling, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of ankylosis in either ankle.