Ankle decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a bilateral ankle disability has been dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to February 3, 2020 is being remanded due to the need for a full employment history.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a right ankle disability. The Veteran's lower back disability and major depressive disorder are granted as secondary to his lower back disability.

The Board denied service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and right foot disability (claimed as right ankle disability) due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during active service, were related to in-service injuries or diseases, or had continuity of symptoms since service.,While the Veteran reported experiencing knee pain and ankle pain since service, his current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right ankle disability due to incomplete records and need for additional development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection of a left ankle disability, a left foot disability (to include as secondary to a service-connected condition), and a blood disorder. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's lumbar and right knee disabilities are granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.,Service connection for bilateral hip, foot, and ankle disabilities is also granted as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral shin splints, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service. The TDIU claim was also denied as the Veteran had not been found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities prior to March 2019.

The Board dismissed the claims of service connection for a back disorder, bilateral hip condition, and left ankle disorder as secondary to the Veteran’s service-connected left first MTP joint disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for consideration for TDIU prior to May 31, 2016.,From May 31, 2016, the preponderance of the evidence does not demonstrate that the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right ankle injury is rated at 30% since September 4, 2019 for neurological manifestations and 30% since September 4, 2019 for orthopedic manifestations.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder is granted with a rating of 70 percent effective June 7, 2016.,Headache syndrome is granted with a 50 percent rating effective November 9, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety, require further examination and development. The case is being remanded to allow for additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 was denied as the evidence did not show that he incurred a chronic disorder from faulty medical care provided by VA.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and assigned a 10 percent rating. The Veteran's left knee and lower extremity stress fractures, right knee and lower extremity stress fractures, and right ankle sprain were each rated at the minimum compensable level (10%) due to painful motion.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his ratings for various disabilities, including renal cell carcinoma and hearing loss.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's left ankle disability, effective from July 22, 2013. The decision also found that throughout the appeal period, the Veteran's left ankle disability more nearly approximated marked limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot and ankle disabilities due to incomplete development of his medical records.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, gynecomastia, hypercholesterolemia, hemorrhoids, right ankle disability, nerve sheath tumor of the left leg, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's left ankle disability is related to his service-connected disabilities.