Ankle decisions — 2022

The Veteran's death was not recognized for DIC and death pension benefits due to the marriage occurring too late. The appellant is being remanded to clarify whether she wishes to proceed as a substitute party or solely for accrued benefits purposes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, right hand disability, right ankle disability, and sleep apnea. The decision found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for a back disability, and that the current disabilities were not incurred in or due to service.

The Veteran's Barrett's esophagus was granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected reactive arthritis (previously diagnosed as Reiter's syndrome) of the left ankle. The other issues were remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence received, including STRs and military personnel records. The issues are related to bilateral knee conditions, right ankle condition, back condition (DDD), and bilateral foot condition.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The claim for TDIU was also denied as there were no service-connected disabilities that met the schedular requirements.,The Veteran has a history of employment issues related to his right ankle disability, including part-time work as a retailer and cab driver.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination to determine if any of the Veteran's conditions are related to his service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left hand/thumb disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, and right knee disorder due to inadequate opinions regarding their etiology. The decision on the left foot disorder claim is pending.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability but has remanded the issue of service connection for a left ankle disability, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal for all issues.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle strain residuals. The Veteran's recurrent headache disability and left foot and right foot pes planus disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle condition likely began during his active service and is granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his left ankle injury with degenerative arthritis was denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The evidence did not show ankylosis or its functional equivalent, and the current range of motion measurements were within normal limits.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, characterized by marked limitation of motion and osteoarthritis, has been granted a 20% rating effective from March 23, 2011.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a right ankle disability due to new and material evidence. The claim is granted, but the left ankle sprain remains rated at 10%.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided were not in compliance with the February 2022 remand directives. Therefore, an additional remand is necessary to obtain a new addendum opinion from a different examiner regarding service connection for a right ankle disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right ankle disability was aggravated by service. The case will be returned for a new examination and opinion.

The Veteran's right ankle strain has been rated at 10 percent since June 7, 2012. From November 30, 2020, the VA found that his symptoms warranted a higher rating of 20 percent.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain with residual ligamentous instability and synovitis is rated at 20 percent before December 6, 2019. The Board has remanded the case for further development.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service connection due to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's right ankle condition is granted as service connection due to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the previously denied claims.