Ankle decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disorder, lumbosacral strain, and lower extremity sciatica as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are denied. The right great toe gout claim is dismissed. The Board has remanded the remaining issues for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right knee condition and right ankle sprain, as well as her TDIU claim due to inadequate examinations in prior remands. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for left ankle osteochondritis dissecans and residuals of a left ankle injury was denied. A separate 10 percent disability rating for left ankle instability, beginning January 17, 2014, was granted.

The Veteran's acquired mental disorder is granted service connection. Service connection for left ankle and right knee disabilities are denied, while left knee disability is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back disability but has remanded the claims for right and left ankle conditions due to incomplete service treatment records.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent prior to February 17, 2020 and denied throughout the appeal. The left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent prior to February 17, 2020 and denied throughout the appeal. Service connection for right shoulder tendonitis and tinnitus are granted.

The Veteran's appeals for reopening claims of service connection for bilateral elbow and shoulder disabilities were dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.,New and material evidence was received for several conditions, including tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, right knee and left knee disabilities, right hip and left hip disabilities, right ankle and left ankle disabilities, residual burns of the right leg, and residuals of a right hand/finger disability. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating based on current evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected left foot arthritis, left ankle sprain, and painful surgical scar disabilities cause functional impairments that preclude unassisted balance and propulsion to such degree that the Veteran would be equally well served by use of a suitable prosthetic appliance at the ankle level. As a result, entitlement to loss of use of the left foot at the ankle level is granted.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder has been withdrawn. The right ankle disability and gastrointestinal disability claims have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle disability and its relationship to service, including his service-connected right foot ligament tear.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to a TDIU on a schedular basis from November 20, 2020 due to new evidence received after the previous SSOC.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and need for additional information regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for an infectious disease, specifically Q fever, and a right ankle disorder. The issues have been returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for mixed sleep apnea was granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for this condition. His claims for left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and left knee disorder were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to evidence of worsening since his last VA examination. The cases are being returned for further evaluation and potential additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, right hip disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right ankle disorder due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's contentions of in-service onset and continuity of symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis but has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left ankle conditions secondary to bilateral plantar fasciitis due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, and left knee disability due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received, granting the reopening of claims for service connection for right ankle disorder, lumbar spine disorder, thoracic spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right hip disorder.