Ankle decisions — 2022

The Veteran's IBS has been granted presumptive service connection. The right ankle disability is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, low back disorder, right ankle degenerative arthritis, right shoulder degenerative arthritis (status post reverse total shoulder arthroplasty), left shoulder degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis. The rating assigned is 60 percent.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent prior to March 25, 2022 and denied for a higher rating. A TDIU is granted.,Service connection for left foot disability, right foot disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability is remanded.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding his claims of service connection for tinnitus, heart block, and an increased initial compensable rating for his service-connected heart murmur. The Board also granted service connection for right ankle strain and left ankle strain, but denied service connection for a left thumb disability.

The Veteran's right ankle disability and residuals of cholecystectomy were each increased to a 10 percent rating effective August 23, 2019. The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left ankle disability has been withdrawn and dismissed due to his opt-in under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA). The AMA system was activated, but only for the back disability claim. The left ankle disability claim remains in the Legacy appeal system.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, left knee, low back, acquired psychiatric disorder (e.g., PTSD, Anxiety, Depression), GERD, hemorrhoids, hypertension, left ankle, right ankle, left elbow, left shoulder, left wrist, right wrist, and sciatic nerve disorders affecting both lower extremities are all service-connected.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including bilateral hearing loss, heart disability, neurological disabilities of the upper and lower extremities, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and PTSD. Additional medical opinions are needed regarding the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, which includes a chronic sprain and post-traumatic fracture, is rated at 20 percent prior to October 30, 2020. The rating remains at 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal of TDIU is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of SMC based on need for aid and attendance or on account of being housebound, due to additional development needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings or service connection based on his claimed conditions.

The Veteran is eligible for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing (SAH) due to his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's claim of eligibility for a special home adaptation grant (SHA) is dismissed as moot, given the award of SAH.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and the need for an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral ankle disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and readjudication due to procedural issues, incomplete records, and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as his left ankle strain, have been rated at 10 percent each. The Board found that these conditions did not warrant higher ratings based on their severity.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability causes loss of use of his left foot, which prevents him from effectively operating an automobile. The Board has granted eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of left ankle sprain due to incomplete opinions regarding the etiology of the respiratory disorder and the severity of the left ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disorder, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, scar above the right eye, and denied service connection for a right ankle disorder.