Ankle decisions — 2022

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right hip disability, bilateral ankle and knee disabilities, leg cramps (including shin splints), foot disabilities, and wrist disability (including carpal tunnel syndrome). The evidence does not support a relationship between these conditions and her active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the issues on appeal, including for service connection claims related to bilateral foot conditions, bilateral ankle conditions, pseudofolliculitis, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for a right foot disability, including calcaneal spurring, peripheral neuropathy, and right ankle sprain with swelling, finding that the condition became manifest during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeals for service connection of right knee, leg, and ankle disabilities are remanded due to procedural issues. The claims will be reconsidered after additional evidence is obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss. The remaining issues of service connection for the other conditions are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and lack of consideration of relevant evidence.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted with a 20 percent rating, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, Depressive Disorder, Alcohol Use Disorder) is granted. The issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for nephrolithiasis remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to March 9, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left ankle disability was denied. The case is now remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for gastric ulcer and diabetes mellitus type II.,The Board found that there was no ankylosis or instability in the Veteran's left ankle, which precluded a higher rating. The case is now remanded to provide addendum opinions addressing whether any current gastrointestinal disorder and/or diabetes mellitus were proximately caused by his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease, chronic right ankle strain, and chronic right foot pain. The disabilities are found to be related to in-service injuries.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection due to concurrent receipt of VA disability compensation and active service drill pay, finding that the evidence did not support his assertion that he did not receive drill pay during fiscal years 2014 and 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability, including as secondary to his service-connected right knee and foot disabilities, is being remanded due to the need for an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been found to meet the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating prior to November 23, 2021. The appeal regarding other conditions has been dismissed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset and causation of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability was granted with an effective date of June 17, 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to a lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives, specifically obtaining a VA examination and medical nexus opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and left ankle disabilities due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives. The VA Regional Office is required to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these disabilities, as well as verify the Veteran's period of active duty for training or inactive duty training.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for his lumbar spine strain, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and Achilles tendonitis of the left ankle due to incomplete records. The Veteran is requested to provide any private medical records related to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate was denied because he does not have a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent disabling or a TDIU based on a single disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle conditions as secondary to his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis.