Ankle decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for right and left knee disorders, bilateral ankle disorders, and lumbar spine disorder due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives. Additional development is required.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as a right knee disability secondary to a left knee disability. The claims were reopened due to new evidence received since the last final denial.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a low back disability and left ankle disability due to insufficient evidence, including the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for right knee disorder, left shoulder strain, bilateral pes planus, and left foot hallux valgus have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to greater than 50 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder, service connection for alcohol abuse, hypertension secondary to psychiatric disorder, and degenerative joint disease of ankles.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to January 30, 2018 due to the Veteran's left ankle disability. The case is referred to the Director for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's increased ratings for his service-connected right and left ankle disabilities have been denied. Service connection has also been denied for a leg disability.

The Board dismissed all appeals for increased ratings and effective date claims related to various conditions, including cervical spine, left upper extremity radiculopathy, posttraumatic degenerative changes of the right ankle, right shoulder rotator cuff strain/tendonitis, degenerative changes of the left knee, degenerative changes of the right knee, sciatic nerve radiculopathies in both lower extremities, and femoral nerve radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to grant service connection for the claimed conditions, and thus remands are ordered for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right foot/ankle disability is related to service, including his prior fractures and pes planus.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has worsened, and he needs a current VA examination to assess the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability ratings for post-operative scars from right ankle and left humerus surgeries are granted effective January 7, 2014, to May 20, 2021.,For the period since May 21, 2021, a higher rating is denied as there is no evidence of deep or non-linear scars or functional limitation.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examination reports and outstanding records. The TDIU claim is deferred until the AOJ completes the requested actions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hyperlipidemia was dismissed. The claims of service connection for left and right ankle conditions, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, obesity, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder, eating disorder, and sleeping disturbances), right knee osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, right hip pain, left hip pain, neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and neuropathy of the right lower extremity have been reopened.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and TDIU due to new evidence added since the December 2020 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's left ankle disability and bipolar disorder with PTSD and alcohol use disorder were evaluated, but the appeal was denied for a higher rating. The Veteran received a 100 percent rating for his bipolar disorder starting May 1, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for right wrist disorder, left wrist disorder, and right ankle arthritis. However, it granted service connection for a skin disorder of the lower lip.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is granted. The right knee disability issue has been dismissed as moot, and the right and left ankle disabilities are remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability due to new and material evidence submitted. However, the case is remanded as further development is needed before deciding on its merits.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right ankle strain disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, with no higher ratings granted due to the lack of marked limited motion of the ankles.

The Veteran's bilateral foot and left ankle disabilities are remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his military service.