Ankle decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and asthma. The conditions are found to be etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence. The remaining issues on appeal are being remanded as well.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for sexual dysfunction and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, alcohol and substance abuse, bilateral pes planus, migraine headaches, cataracts, vertigo, and glaucoma. The claims for left ankle/foot disorders other than pes planus, right knee injuries, and left knee injuries are denied.

Service connection is granted for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, chondromalacia patella of the right knee, and degenerative arthritis of the right ankle.,Secondary service connection is also granted for osteoarthritis and chondromalacia patella of the left knee.

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the appeals for service connection and increased ratings on multiple disabilities, including right knee disability, flat wart hand, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, right shoulder impingement syndrome, left shoulder strain with rotator cuff tendonitis, and TDIU.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, erectile dysfunction (ED), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), hyperthyroidism, a chronic disability manifested by diarrhea, neck condition, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, right knee degenerative arthritis, and right ankle osteoarthritis.,Service connection is remanded for left knee condition, bilateral hearing loss (BHL), diabetes, hypertension, kidney condition, residuals of a pilonidal sinus cyst, and bilateral foot condition.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been dismissed as the Board has already granted favorable decisions on these issues.,The Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings and SMC remain pending, and further review is required.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for left ankle disorder and right knee disability, as secondary to a left ankle disorder. The decision is based on insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left ankle disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70 percent rating, and his right and left ankle disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent from October 19, 2007 to November 10, 2011 and at 20 percent since August 16, 2012. The claim for TDIU was denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left ankle disability, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and thus granting the benefit of the doubt to the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for clarification on whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone render him in need of regular aid and attendance. The case is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the functional impairment attributable to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder, but dismissed all other claims of service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left hip disability, left knee disability, bilateral foot disability, and bilateral ankle disability due to outstanding in-service medical records not obtained.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right ankle disabilities, as well as a right knee disability, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on functional loss or marked limitation of motion.

The Board has found that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle sprain and right foot disability due to lack of VA examinations and medical opinions addressing etiology. The claims are being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of right ankle tendonitis, left ankle tendonitis, right knee strain, left knee strain, and left knee instability. The effective date was set at November 10, 2015.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeal regarding his left hip disorder. The remaining issues of service connection for low back, right hip, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and hypertension have been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle, left knee, and skin disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The appeal for service connection for residuals, right hand injury and a skin disability is dismissed. The appeals for left wrist and left ankle disabilities are remanded.