Ankle decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that new VA examinations are necessary for the Veteran's service-connected left ankle sprain and bilateral plantar fasciitis, as the previous examinations did not account for flare-ups and functional loss.

The Veteran's right ankle avulsion fracture is rated at 10 percent, and his thoracolumbar spinal stenosis with spinal fusion is rated at 20 percent. The issues of a compensable rating for bladder disturbance associated with the Veteran’s thoracolumbar spine disorder and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.,The Veteran's right ankle avulsion fracture remains rated at 10 percent, while his thoracolumbar spinal stenosis is rated at 20 percent. The issues of a compensable rating for bladder disturbance associated with the Veteran’s thoracolumbar spine disorder and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine, right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since September 2, 2008.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, leaving no issues for the Board to consider.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a right ankle disability and remanded it for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, low back disability, bilateral ankle disability, left knee disability, and bronchitis. The decision also found that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the November 1985 and September 1987 rating decisions denying these conditions.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated as 10 percent prior to March 11, 2019 and denied for a rating in excess of 10 percent from that date. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for her left knee, right knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to conflicting evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions. The issues include left ankle, left knee, and right tibia fractures disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial disability ratings are remanded due to insufficient evidence of the current severity of his right foot and ankle disabilities, including any residuals. The Veteran also has a TDIU claim that needs further development.

The Veteran was granted effective dates of January 1, 2014 for various disabilities including bilateral plantar fasciitis with bilateral calcaneal enthesopathy, left and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with arthritis, left elbow lateral and medial epicondylitis with arthritis, right elbow lateral and medial epicondylitis with arthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.,The effective dates were granted based on the Veteran's original claim filed in July 2013.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for his right ankle disability from March 18, 1995 to July 15, 2015.,DIC benefits were also granted under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his death in July 2015.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and radiculopathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities. The Veteran's left knee partial meniscectomy is granted a separate 10% rating.

The Veteran's pinguecula is remanded for further examination to determine its likely cause.,The Veteran's left ankle disability, loss of sensation in the left and right hands, acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety and depressive disorder), left shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability are all remanded as they may be related to his service-connected back disability. The Veteran also has other issues that need examination including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and allergic rhinitis.,The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis based on limitation of flexion and extension is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and right ankle sprain have been granted service connection, while the claim for increased rating of sinusitis has been denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosed disability or in-service incurrence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right broken ankle is denied due to lack of evidence of a current diagnosis related to the previous injury.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is set at April 10, 2017 as the earliest allowable date under VA regulations.,PTSD symptoms warrant a 100 percent rating throughout the appeal period due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral shoulder and ankle disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his airborne duties in service.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right ankle is rated at 20 percent prior to September 14, 2014 and denied for a rating in excess of 20 percent from that date. The Veteran's surgical scar of the right ankle is not compensable.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability, along with other disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to May 18, 2011.