Ankle decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hypertrophy, memory disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, lumbar spine disability (chronic low back pain), chronic cervical strain, allergic rhinitis, gastrointestinal disabilities, colon diverticulosis, and degenerative joint diseases of multiple joints. The Board found no evidence to support service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case to issue a supplemental statement of the case addressing all issues related to the claim of an increased rating for residuals, status post repair, of laceration of the left Achilles tendon.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, which has been rated as 10 percent disabling since November 24, 2015, is denied a higher rating due to limited motion not meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has found the VA examinations inadequate and remanded for further development, including scheduling new examinations to address service connection claims for various foot, ankle, knee, and back disabilities.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, which was initially service-connected in October 2014 and rated at 10% prior to April 23, 2020, is now granted a 20% rating effective from April 23, 2020. The decision also grants TDIU effective January 23, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the back, hips, legs, hands and ankles, as well as a lumbar spine disorder, are being remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board finds that additional medical opinions are needed regarding whether these conditions are related to her service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by overuse due to chronic pain in his right ankle.

The Veteran's right shoulder and bilateral ankle disabilities are found to be related to service, while the flatfoot and TBI claims are denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hip osteoarthritis, right ankle osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and left knee MCL tear. The low back disability claim is being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing post-service findings of mild osteoarthritis of the bilateral ankles, as well as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset in service.

The Board has remanded the service connection matters for left and right ankle conditions due to incomplete VA opinions. The TDIU matter is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection issues.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a tendonitis of the left ankle, finding that her current diagnosis is related to her in-service injury and treatment. The decision also reopened her previously denied claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disorder is related to his service-connected left knee and left foot disabilities, and thus remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disability is related to service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current lumbar spine disability, bilateral foot disability, respiratory disability, sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder, or left hip disability that was incurred in or otherwise the result of active service.,For the left ankle disability, the Board finds that there is no evidence of a current disability and the VA examiner's opinion does not support a finding of an injury during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, right ankle, and left ankle conditions due to her failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip, bilateral knee, bilateral ankle, bilateral foot, and neck disabilities may be related to his service-connected right hip and lumbar spine disabilities. However, no VA examiner has provided an opinion on this issue. The case is being remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left ankle disability has been reopened, and the case is remanded for further development. The right ankle disability rating remains under review.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle degenerative joint disease (recharacterized) is rated at 20 percent effective March 7, 2014. The Board finds that the Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ankle disability as secondary to her service-connected right and left knee disabilities, finding that there is no medical evidence establishing a link between these conditions.