Ankle decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cyst of mouth, left ankle disability, right lateral epicondylitis, and right wrist sprain due to additional development needed.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease have been granted a 20 percent rating prior to November 14, 2014. A higher rating is denied for the entire appeal period. The right ankle disability has not met the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral ankle tendinitis, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ankle disorders have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current functional impairment.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder disability, sleep apnea, right ankle degenerative joint disease, bilateral degenerative joint disease of the hands, irritable bowel syndrome, and erectile dysfunction (secondary to PTSD) have been reopened. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 30, 2009.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, bilateral ankle disorder, right knee disorder, and sleep apnea. The case will be remanded to obtain VA medical opinions on these issues.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, including the residuals of a fracture and degenerative arthritis, was rated at 20 percent prior to October 19, 2015. The Board found that the evidence supported a finding of marked limitation of motion in the left ankle.

Right Elbow Scar service connection is dismissed.,Service connection for Right Ankle Osteoarthritis and Right Foot Disability is granted.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to clarify the etiology of the Veteran's left ear hearing loss, prostatitis, ED, TB residuals and lung nodules/polyps, left ankle stress fracture, left ankle arthritis, and chronic pain all over.,The Veteran is being asked to provide more information regarding his exposure to asbestos aboard the USS Ponce LPD 15. He is also requested to clarify when and where he served for two months and seven days as documented in his DD Form 214.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle arthritis is related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities and/or migraines, as well as a need for additional development regarding the Veteran's TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for lumbar spine surgical scar associated with degenerative arthritis of the spine and herniated disc, status post spinal fusion is denied. The claims for service connection for right foot disorder and right ankle disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and left ankle lateral ligament laxity disabilities have been granted a compensable rating of 10 percent each.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee total joint replacement, right knee replaced broken leg, numbness in left leg and foot (secondary to left knee total joint replacement), left shoulder arthritis, lower back/lumbago, left ankle, and sinusitis. The reasons provided include the lack of a nexus between these conditions and active military service.,The Board found that there is no evidence linking any of these conditions to the Veteran's time in active duty.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bone chip, status post-surgical repair of the right and left ankles were denied by the Board. The current evaluations are 10 percent each.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment, resulting in a grant of TDIU. The issue of a separate rating for pes planus is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle condition, finding that there is no positive nexus opinion linking his current right ankle disability to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is related to service or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for migraine headaches prior to April 17, 2018 was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the schedular criteria.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to June 21, 2017 was also denied. The Board determined that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following gainful employment.