Ankle decisions — 2021

The Veteran is granted TDIU for his service-connected disabilities prior to May 26, 2020 and TDIU solely due to PTSD beginning May 26, 2020. SMC at the housebound rate is also granted starting from May 26, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for corneal dystrophy, right ankle disability, and hypertension. The Veteran's corneal dystrophy was found to have preexisted his first period of active duty and not aggravated during that time. His right ankle disability is presumed to have existed prior to his second period of active duty. Hypertension is also presumed to have existed prior to the second period of active duty.,The Board did not find any evidence of a current right ankle disability or arthritis related to service, with the exception of osteoarthritis being diagnosed in 2005 during the Veteran's second period of active duty.

The Veteran's left ankle disability was not rated higher than 10% prior to January 25, 2010.,For the period from January 25, 2010 to June 1, 2015, a rating in excess of 20% for the left ankle disability is denied.,For the period from June 1, 2015 forward, a rating in excess of 10% for the left ankle disability is denied.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at a maximum of 20 percent, which represents marked limitation of motion. The Board granted the claim for a rating increase.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral medial epicondylitis, osteoarthritis in the left shoulder, left ankle strain, and arthritis in the left hand and right hand due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU, including on an extraschedular basis. The Board found that her physical limitations did not preclude her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot disability, back disability, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his active military service.,Service connection is established for all four issues on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disorder as there is no evidence of a current disability or link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment as of July 2, 2009. The Board granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for a right ankle disability and has determined that he is entitled to service connection for a right ankle strain. The decision is based on evidence showing a current diagnosis, an in-service injury, and a relationship between the two.

The Board found no evidence of a current lower back, bilateral ankle, or bilateral knee disability related to service.,The Veteran's lay statements about experiencing pain during service were not credible due to his prior denial of such symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome and a rating in excess of 10% for his right ankle disability due to insufficient examination reports.

The Board has restored service connection for a cervical spine disability. Service connection was denied for left hand and wrist, left shin splints, right shin splints, left ankle, right ankle, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) disabilities.

The Veteran's right ankle and knee disabilities have been granted initial evaluations, with the right ankle receiving a 20% evaluation effective December 5, 2017. The right knee disability has received separate evaluations for different manifestations.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's left ankle disability as of September 25, 2020. Prior to that date, the disability was rated at 10 percent. The decision also denied any higher ratings prior to September 25, 2020.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, low back disability, and bilateral ankle disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle condition. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's left ankle strain with tendonitis was granted a 20% evaluation since July 21, 2020. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's service-connected post-traumatic arthropathy of the right ankle is granted a 30 percent rating from August 3, 2018. The compensable initial rating for hyperkeratosis of bilateral feet remains denied.

The Board dismissed the appeal of several service connection claims due to the appellant's death.