Ankle decisions — 2021

The Veteran's right ankle injury is rated at 20 percent since November 24, 2020. Prior to that date, the rating was 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and left ankle disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a direct relationship to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for patellofemoral syndrome of both knees and blurred vision. The remaining claims are also being remanded.

The Veteran withdrew her claims for service connection and evaluations related to various conditions, including constipation, left ankle fracture, fatigue and insomnia, cervical spine disability, ganglion cyst of the left knee, allergic rhinitis, lumbosacral strain, lower extremity radiculopathy, and left ankle surgery.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition was not related to his military service and is more likely due to alcohol abuse.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 30 percent, and the appeal for a higher rating is denied. The claim of entitlement to TDIU since July 12, 2017 is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions, including whether they are related to in-service exposure or other environmental factors.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate examinations in previous remands. The Veteran's bilateral pes cavus, plantar fasciitis, osteoarthritis of various interphalangeal and metacarpal phalangeal joints, and plantar and posterior heel spurs; left ankle strain; and right ankle strain need to be re-evaluated.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, including degenerative changes and tibial neuropathy, has resulted in no more than moderate limitation of motion. The Board denied a higher rating for the residuals of the right ankle fracture.

The Veteran's left ankle disability was granted a rating of 40% from August 1, 2012 to August 3, 2019. Since then, the claim for a higher rating has been denied. The right ankle and lumbar spine disabilities have also had their ratings denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle recurrent sprains and calcification or ossification adjacent to the medial malleolus, as well as degenerative arthritis of both the right and left knees, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety and depression. The decision is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection was not granted as there is no diagnosed current right ankle disability or mental health condition related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a right ankle disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at a 20 percent rating, and he was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to his service-connected major depressive disorder, left ankle degenerative joint disease, and left knee status post anterior cruciate ligament repair.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the entire claim period.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to inconsistencies in the examination reports regarding range of motion. Additional records are needed, including VA treatment records and non-VA orthopedic records.

The Veteran's increased rating for Addison's disease with osteopenia and weight loss is granted. The issue of service connection for swelling of face, hands, feet, legs, and ankles (secondary to service-connected Addison’s disease and medications prescribed for this disability) is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The Veteran's dry eyes, vision impairment, left knee condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, and hemorrhoids have been dismissed from the appeal.