Ankle decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as a skin condition, all secondary to his service-connected plantar fasciitis. The VA will conduct medical examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his right ankle disability, including sinus tarsi syndrome and short Achilles tendon.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities. The decision did not provide a specific rating assigned or effective date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), right ankle sprain, and lower extremity radiculopathy associated with IVDS are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for right ankle injury, right heel, and tendonitis was also denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle and thoracolumbar spine disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of chronic conditions in service or continuity of symptomatology. His right ear hearing loss and right knee disability remain under consideration.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a left knee disability and has not had one at any time during or approximate to the pendency of her claim.,The Board also denied service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a left ankle disability and has not had one at any time during or recent to the filing of the claim.,Service connection was denied for a right ankle disability due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disorder, bilateral ankle disorders, and bilateral knee disabilities due to new evidence received since the last decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his lumbar spine disability, associated radiculopathy, and bilateral ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to a lack of an adequate opinion addressing the impact of flare-ups on his knee, ankle, and foot disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and lower back disorder.,There is no evidence of any in-service onset or diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on his right ankle sprain was withdrawn during the August 2021 hearing.,Claims for hypertension and ED, both secondary to PTSD, were denied in November 2016. No new evidence has been submitted that could reopen these claims.,Claims for left knee condition and right knee condition were also denied in December 2016. Again, no new evidence has been submitted that could reopen these claims.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his right ankle sprain rating was denied.,Service connection for IBS was granted.,Service connection for fibromyalgia was denied.,A 20 percent disability rating, but no higher, was granted for the left ankle condition. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating based on this appeal.,The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen claims of service connection for numbness, muscle and joint pain, migraines, memory loss, and lower back conditions.,Claims for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to obtain missing service treatment and personnel records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, right shoulder disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder due to procedural errors in obtaining an examination.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is granted with a rating of 30 percent, effective from the date of the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a separate 10 percent rating, but not higher, for a painful scar of the left knee are granted. The claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected hypertension is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed as she has withdrawn her appeals regarding these conditions.

The Board has dismissed all claims for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and back disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The case is being remanded for further development.