Ankle decisions — 2022

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as he has not submitted evidence necessary to substantiate the claim and his service-connected left ankle disability does not impact his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, thoracic spine, left ankle, right ankle, and right foot disorders due to inadequate medical opinions.

A higher 20 percent rating is granted for the left ankle disability, effective from November 8, 2013.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded several issues related to his right ankle, cervical spine, left hip, left knee, and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a right knee disorder. The case is remanded for further development on several issues, including entitlement to increased ratings and service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, specifically addressing secondary and aggravation theories. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are believed to be contributing factors.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has ordered a remand due to evidence of worsening since the last VA examination. The case must be returned for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, major depression, and PTSD. The issue of service connection for a bilateral ankle disability is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle strain is currently rated at 20 percent from July 25, 2019. The rating was granted as the disability has been found to have marked limitation of motion since that date.

The Veteran's bilateral hand essential tremors were granted service connection on a direct basis. The issues of malaria, immunodeficiency disorder, chronic bronchitis, left thumb sprain, right ankle strain, left ankle strain, right knee strain, left knee strain with limitation of extension, thoracic spine degenerative disc disease and lumbar strain, left hip strain, and post traumatic headaches are all pending.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for a new medical opinion to determine if it is related to service or his service-connected hepatitis C. The issues of higher initial ratings for various joint disabilities and radiculopathy are also being remanded.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome have been granted service connection as secondary to their respective service-connected conditions. The Veteran also received a TDIU for the period from October 25, 2016, to April 1, 2020.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed bilateral foot disability, and thus denied service connection for this condition. The remaining issues of neck, ankle, knee, and shoulder disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle/foot disability, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of a right ankle strain and calcaneal spur did not meet the criteria for direct service connection due to lack of evidence of arthritis within one year of separation. The VA examiners opined against the claim based on the absence of medical evidence supporting a fracture in service and no further complaints or diagnoses related to the right foot or ankle until 34 years after separation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, metatarsalgia of the left foot, and left ankle disability due to new evidence received.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, excluding sarcoidosis, have rendered him unable to perform daily activities without assistance. He is granted SMC(l) based on aid and attendance from August 2, 2005, to August 16, 2010, as well as SMC(o) and SMC(r)(1).

The Veteran's TBI and right ankle degenerative arthritis have been granted service connection. The Board has found the evidence to be in approximate balance as to whether his cervical spine condition, anxiety, bilateral hearing loss, and left ankle arthritis are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, hip, wrist, hand, leg, shoulder, spine, and hearing loss disabilities due to incomplete information in the record. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for VA to obtain his private treatment records and undergo examinations to determine if any of these conditions are related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, right foot disability, and right ankle disability made him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from November 12, 2015 to June 24, 2019.