Ankle decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation and rating of his left ankle disability, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The initial rating for the left ankle strain remains denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a bilateral foot disability, finding that there was no evidence to support an aggravation by service and concluding that his pre-existing pes planus did not worsen during military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for left ankle, right ankle, and low back disabilities. The claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to the Veteran's failure to attend a VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for right foot metatarsalgia with arthritis, which he contends is due to his service-connected left foot metatarsalgia and bilateral ankle psoriatic arthritis. The case is being remanded for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder, left ankle, right knee, and left knee disorders.

The Veteran's sinusitis is granted service connection. The cervical spine disability remains at a 20% rating, but the lumbar spine disability receives a 40% rating beginning January 17, 2020. No other conditions receive initial ratings or SMC determinations.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain has been granted a rating of 10 percent, effective as of the date of the decision.,Service connection for tinnitus is established. The Board found that the Veteran's condition manifested during service and continues since then.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent and does not meet the threshold for a schedular TDIU consideration. The Board found that the evidence did not show he was precluded from securing or following substantially gainful employment due to his left ankle disability.

The Board has denied service connection for right leg and bilateral ankle disabilities, finding that the evidence is not persuasive in favor of a causal relationship between these conditions and service. The Veteran's cervical spine disability remains under consideration.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its relation to service or any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been reopened, and the appeal is granted to this extent. The claims of entitlement to a compensable rating for service-connected left ear hearing loss, service connection for left ankle condition, and service connection for left foot condition are remanded.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for the Veteran's right ankle disability, effective March 25, 2002.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a bone condition secondary to left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, tendonitis, ear condition (secondary to bilateral hearing loss and/or tinnitus), sleep disorder (other than sleep apnea), and left knee disorder. The evidence does not support these claims.

The Veteran's appeal regarding his right ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) and instructions on perfecting an appeal.

Service connection for arthritis of the right ankle and left ankle has been granted.,The issue of service connection for a left foot disability is being remanded.

The Board has granted increased initial ratings of 20% for the right fifth metatarsal fracture and 60% for actinic keratosis and residuals. The appeal for an increased rating for eczema (also diagnosed as psoriasis) is remanded, and the appeal for an increased initial rating greater than 10% for the right ankle sprain with degenerative arthritis is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of the claims as they are no longer relevant.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been dismissed as he has withdrawn all his pending claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease has been granted, as new and material evidence was received.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder has also been granted, with the condition being related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an incomplete VA examination, and a new addendum opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's right ankle condition is related to his service.