Ankle decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ratings for mast cell activation syndrome, bilateral foot disability, lumbar spine disability, right elbow and shoulder disabilities, scars, gastroesophageal reflux disease with hiatal hernia, and hemorrhoids. The decision also includes a request for additional evidence from VA and private sources.

The Board denied service connection for a recurrent right ankle disability, including an Achilles tendon disability, finding that there is no current evidence of such disabilities and thus not warranting service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition is related to active military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The left ankle disability is remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding its relationship to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for VR&E benefits as he is currently employed and has overcome any employment handicap.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including heart, neck, low back, shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle disabilities. The evidence did not establish a relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's period of active duty service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted as service-connected. The low back, left lower extremity sciatica, and right lower extremity sciatica claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the date of onset of pain from the Veteran's bilateral ankle scars associated with his surgeries in 1988 and/or prior to February 22, 2018.

The Board dismissed the appeals for higher initial rating for right hand thumb strain, service connection for right and left leg shin splints, and service connection for a skin disorder. The appeals for reopening service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus were granted. Service connection was denied for headache disorder, lumbar spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, left ankle disorder, and sinusitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral foot disabilities. The decision finds that the Veteran's current left ankle disability is related to his active service, but does not provide a rating or effective date as this matter was remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left ankle disabilities, as well as his major depressive disorder. The claim for a temporary total disability rating due to right knee surgery requiring convalescence was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, neck, back, shoulder, elbow, and ankle disabilities due to credible testimony of in-service injuries sustained during combat duty. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of his back, left shoulder, and right ankle disabilities are remanded due to incomplete medical records. The VA will obtain relevant treatment records and personnel files from the Tennessee National Guard.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, venous stasis skin changes, left lower leg, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, schizoaffective disorder, depressive disorder, substance abuse) due to insufficient evidence or procedural errors. The Veteran's claims are not yet decided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left ankle is at least as likely as not related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the appeal regarding service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, and allergic rhinitis is remanded due to need for new evidence.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has been rated at 40 percent since January 11, 2022. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as the maximum schedular rating available for an ankle disability under the amputation rule has already been assigned.

The Veteran's left and right ankle pain, status post sprains, are rated at 10 percent each. The Veteran is granted a 10 percent rating for sinusitis from October 3, 2017.

The Veteran's left foot pes planus was granted service connection as it clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service and was aggravated during active duty.,Service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis is granted as the condition developed due to her service-connected left foot pes planus. The Board also found that aggravation of left ankle arthritis by ACDUTRA period may have occurred.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for PTSD, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, and right ear hearing loss has been granted. The cases are now remanded for further evaluation.,PTSD service connection is established.