Ankle decisions — 2021

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be service-connected, with an effective date of March 21, 2017.,An earlier effective date of March 21, 2017 for the 40 percent rating assigned for lumbosacral strain and discogenic disease is granted.,Service connection for a gastrointestinal disability (claimed as diverticulosis) is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for a prostate disability (claimed as prostate cancer) is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, heart condition, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are all remanded due to lack of evidence regarding their relationships with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for osteopenia is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and a need for an examination to determine if the Veteran's left ankle disorder is related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy, as the evidence does not show it was diagnosed during active service or within a year of separation from active service. The weight of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy was due to his presumed herbicide agent exposure.,The Board also denied increased ratings for left knee subluxation and pain, as there is no objective medical evidence showing continuous foot symptomatology or early-onset peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has remanded to determine if there are chronic residuals of his total ankle replacement that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected knee and ankle disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, but the Board has remanded for further examination to determine their current severity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lower back disability, left ankle disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis (left and right feet), due to conflicting medical opinions and need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that the current condition is not related to or caused by the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted service connection and assigned a 10% rating for lumbosacral strain, effective May 1, 2010. The right ankle disability and left ankle disability are now considered service-connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating and TDIU due to conflicting medical evidence regarding ankle ankylosis, a lack of extraschedular consideration, and reasonable questions about the Veteran's employability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and needs a new examination to determine the current level of severity of the left ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and consideration of his claims, including an increased evaluation for his service-connected left ankle disability and a potential extension of the temporary total evaluation based on convalescence following surgery in October 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for TMJ, chronic chest pain, bilateral elbow disability, and bilateral ankle disability due to inadequate examinations and incomplete records.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations did not address all left ankle disorders found in the record, including but not limited to intra-articular loose body within tibiotalar joint and minimal degenerative changes. The case is therefore remanded for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, finding that the current conditions are not related to service or service-connected plantar fasciitis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle disability and bilateral pes planus, as well as his claim for TDIU. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical records, determine if a new examination or opinion is needed from the May 2019 examiner, and provide the Veteran with an opportunity to submit information about his employment.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from maintaining gainful employment, and the Board denies his claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various hand, foot, and ankle disorders have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability, finding that it warrants such a rating due to marked limitation of motion. The decision is based on VA examination reports and medical evidence showing consistent symptoms of pain, stiffness, instability, and functional limitations.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's ankle disorders and athlete’s foot. The issues are related to secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle and left knee disabilities were denied. The claim for a separate rating for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage associated with patellofemoral pain syndrome with anterior tibial tendonitis, chondromalacia patella, Baker's cyst, and osteoarthritis, right knee was granted.