Ankle decisions — 2022

The Veteran's scar on the top of his head is rated at 30 percent, with a separate 10 percent rating for painful scars. The Veteran also received TDIU benefits effective January 14, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to incomplete VA medical opinions that did not address the Veteran's statements regarding his in-service injury and history of his conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and meniscus tear, is rated at 20% prior to March 18, 2014. From May 1, 2015, his right knee replacement is rated at 60%. The left knee replacement from July 1, 2016, also receives a 60% rating.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective September 29, 2006, due to the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at the highest schedular rating, and an extraschedular evaluation has been denied. The Veteran also does not meet criteria for SMC based on loss of use of his foot or TDIU prior to October 17, 2017.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was granted a 20 percent rating, but not higher.,The Veteran's left ankle disability was denied a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied additional attorney fees based on the past-due benefits awarded in a March 2021 rating decision, as the appellant is already in receipt of the full pre-withdrawal amount.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the claims of service connection for a right ankle condition, a right knee condition, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and private medical records. The Veteran is also to be provided with VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed back, right ankle, right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disorders.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the merits have been dismissed due to withdrawal. The Board has remanded several issues for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's initial ratings for thoracic strain, right ankle disability, and psychiatric disability have been denied. The case is remanded for further development.,The Veteran's TDIU claim has been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected left ankle disability is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and the need to obtain outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder, finding that his preexisting condition did not worsen in service and was not aggravated by service. The arthritis is considered to have clearly existed before service and has been the natural progression of the pre-service injury.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, left foot disability, left ankle disability, and leg length discrepancy as the evidence did not show a current diagnosed disability or establish a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for pes planus, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right knee disability, and sinusitis due to insufficient detail in the previous VA examination opinions.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service connected. The ratings for her knee and ankle disabilities are remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

An initial rating of 50 percent for PTSD is granted prior to June 24, 2020.,The claim of service connection for a right ankle disorder is reopened and the appeal is granted to this extent only.,Service connection for GERD is granted.,The appeal is remanded for further evaluation on the issue of service connection for a neck disorder.,The appeal is remanded for further evaluation on the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical strain and lumbar strain have been granted earlier effective dates of July 9, 2010.,Service connection for a left shoulder disability has been granted. The Board finds the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current left shoulder rotator cuff issues and degenerative joint disease are due to repetitive-use injuries during active service.,The Veteran's service-connected right hip, right thigh, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities have been remanded for clarification of the July 2021 private opinion regarding obesity as an intermediate step. The examiner must provide a rationale addressing whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, and if so, whether the obesity was a substantial factor in causing the claimed bilateral ankle, right hip, or right thigh conditions.,The Veteran's service-connected left hand disability has been remanded for an opinion on secondary service connection. The examiner must address both causation and aggravation to be deemed adequate. If aggravation is found, the examiner should attempt to quantify the degree of additional disability resulting from the aggravation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a disability rating and TDIU due to worsening left ankle symptoms. An updated VA examination is needed, as are Social Security Administration records.

The Board has remanded the issues of an initial compensable rating for PFB, service connection for a chronic low back disorder, service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left ankle, service connection for chronic cardiovascular disease, and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various disabilities, including cervical spine, right shoulder, left knee, and right ankle conditions. The issues are related to whether these conditions were caused or worsened by his military service.