Ankle decisions — 2021

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of rheumatoid arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, left ankle disability, and left foot disability. The claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct link to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain medical records and provide an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's shoulder disabilities. The right ankle disability case remains denied as a rating greater than 10 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's left ankle lateral/collateral ligament sprain is granted as service-connected. The initial rating for his left knee strain remains at 10 percent, with the issue of a higher rating being remanded. Service connection for nasal disability and right wrist disability are also remanded. The TDIU claim from June 11, 2007 through November 15, 2011 is still pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability, finding no link between his current condition and his military service or any service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's left ankle disability was found to have only moderate limited motion, with no evidence of greater impairment. The Board denied a rating in excess of the current 10 percent assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The initial rating claim for tension headaches has been granted, but no specific rating assigned yet.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed for several issues, including left ankle, left knee, left shoulder disabilities, right ear pain, and chronic jaw pain.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left foot disability is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU prior to December 12, 2018 is denied.

The Board has withdrawn several issues from the Veteran's appeal, including those related to PTSD, IBS, lumbar degenerative disc disease and lumbar facet hypertrophy, obstructive sleep apnea, left ankle fracture with residual loose body, tendonitis and left foot talar osteochondral defect, right ankle osteochondral defect status post-surgical repair with history of strain. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim and his claims for service connection for blood clots of the left knee.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate factual premise in its previous decision, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current right ankle disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for chronic nose bleeds has been withdrawn. The claim of service connection for low back disability is reopened and granted. Issues regarding left knee and left ankle disabilities are remanded, as well as the TDIU issue.

The Board has granted service connection for both the right and left ankle disabilities, finding that these conditions are causally related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a rating of 70 percent from November 22, 2013. The appeal is remanded for further evaluation on the issues of increased ratings for various conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle peroneal tendonitis, right ankle degenerative arthritis, left foot degenerative arthritis, and right foot degenerative arthritis. Service connection is also granted for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine but denied for basal cell carcinoma of the upper lip.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral foot pain (pes planus) and bilateral ankle pain. The issue of service connection for upper extremity joint pain, including left shoulder, right shoulder, and right wrist conditions, is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded four issues for further development and consideration: service connection for a low back disability, respiratory disability (claimed as COPD), left ankle disability, and sterility. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the AOJ for additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a right ankle disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The claims file will be updated with any new records, including military personnel records and treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a left ankle disability is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of this condition.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been restored to its prior 20% rating effective October 1, 2017.

The Board has determined that the etiological opinions provided by VA examiners are not based on an accurate factual premise and lack probative weight. Therefore, these claims are remanded for additional development.,VA examiners have failed to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms and their continuity since service.