Ankle decisions — 2021

The Board denied service connection for frostbite residuals, blackouts with loss of consciousness, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, low back disorder, and headaches. The case is remanded for an updated examination of the Veteran's forehead scar.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip condition, a right ankle condition, and a hernia condition. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied.,There is no current diagnosis of a right hip or right ankle condition. The Veteran's hernia condition is not related to his service-connected right knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right foot/ankle injury and service connection for a bilateral leg disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's right ankle strain with achilles tendonitis of the right heel, chronic lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease, lipoma of the lower back, chondromalacia of the right knee, chondromalacia of the left knee, and corneal scar and endothelial pigmentation of the right eye have been granted effective January 1, 1996. The Veteran's claim for lateral collateral ligament strain of the left ankle was dismissed as moot. The Veteran's claim for achilles tendonitis of the left heel associated with left ankle disability is denied.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remand directives and has ordered another remand for further development due to deficiencies in the June 2020 VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and traumatic brain injury have been dismissed as they were granted in a December 2020 rating decision.,Service connection was denied for left hip, right ankle, and right foot conditions due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting right ankle disability was permanently aggravated by her active duty service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. Service connection was denied for the left ankle disability due to lack of credible evidence linking an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and a need for a new medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for obtaining updated treatment records from VA clinics and facilities where the Veteran received care between 2010 and 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and right ankle disability have been granted. The heart disability claim has been denied as the evidence does not show more than one episode of congestive heart failure in the past year, a workload of greater than 3 METs but not greater than 5 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness or syncope, or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 30 to 50 percent. The diabetes claim has been denied as the evidence does not show that his diabetes required insulin and a restricted diet or hypoglycemic agents and restricted diet.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a right ankle disability and synovial cyst, as well as higher initial ratings for various nerve radiculopathy conditions, have been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to her active duty service and resolving reasonable doubt in her favor.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of a head injury and left ankle scar. The case is remanded to obtain an updated VA examination regarding the Veteran's hypertension claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, ankle, and low back conditions due to inadequate examinations. The matter is also remanded for a new examination regarding his sleep condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for additional medical opinions. The issues of entitlement to TDIU are also inextricably intertwined with these service connection claims.

The Board has granted a 10% disability rating for the Veteran's right ankle scar, effective from February 24, 2020. The appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to lack of recent VA examination and missing private treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle Charcot joint disability is service-connected, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for various knee, ankle, and back disabilities as well as COPD. The Veteran's pre-existing left knee condition was not aggravated by service, and there is no evidence of a current disability related to his right knee or ankles that can be linked to service. Service connection for COPD was also denied due to lack of exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including heart disability, hypertension, nerve condition, bilateral shoulder and ankle disabilities, bilateral toe arthritis, and cervical spine disability. The claims are pending further development.