Ankle decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for right and left ankle conditions were denied, but his claims for right and left knee conditions were granted. The decision is mixed as some issues are granted while others are denied.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle or foot disability. The evidence did not support the appellant's claims that these conditions were incurred in or related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including osteoarthritis with gout and hypertension, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle condition and TBI are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the Veteran's right hip condition and right ankle disability, as there are conflicting opinions regarding their etiology and severity.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 7, 2000 for the grant of TDIU and DEA under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction was granted. The Board found new and material evidence, thus reopening the claim.,Service connection for bilateral pes planus on an aggravation basis is granted as the preexisting condition worsened during active military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for chronic sinusitis was denied. The claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, lumbar spine disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder were all denied as well.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, insomnia, tobacco abuse, and substance abuse have been denied. The Veteran also has had his initial ratings for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis, left hip sprain with degenerative arthritis, residuals of left knee injury, status-post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and medial meniscus repair with degenerative arthritis and scars, left knee instability, right knee sprain with degenerative joint disease, and residuals of left thumb injury denied.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection and rating for his ankle, back, hip, and leg/knee disabilities. The case is being remanded to allow for additional examinations by an orthopedic specialist.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the failure to afford him an informal teleconference with a Decision Review Officer (DRO) as requested in his previous requests.

The Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for a right leg disability, bilateral ankle disability, and bilateral pes planus have been granted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for these conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's left ankle strain is rated as 10 percent disabling, and his right ankle strain (status post-surgery) prior to September 2, 2021, is also rated at 10 percent. The case has been remanded for further development.,For the period from September 2, 2021 onwards, the Veteran's right ankle strain status post-surgery is rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board has found that the VA examinations are inadequate and additional development is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's cervical spine arthritis, right ankle arthritis, and left ankle arthritis with prosthesis.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a right ankle condition to obtain additional evidence and an addendum opinion.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, right knee, bilateral ankle, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right ankle disabilities due to unclear evidence regarding the onset and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in permanent impairment of both eyes, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ankylosis of a knee or hip, or loss of use of a hand or foot such that no effective function remains other than that which would be equally well served by an amputation stump at the site of election below the elbow or knee with the use of a suitable prosthetic appliance. Therefore, eligibility for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or for adaptive equipment only is denied.