Ankle decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (schizoaffective disorder) and remanded the issues of service connection for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine; bilateral arthralgias of the heels and ankles; and diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus (flat feet) and left ankle condition, finding that there was no evidence of an increase in disability beyond its natural progression during service.

The Veteran's scar, status post umbilical hernia repair and painful scar, status post umbilical hernia repair are currently rated noncompensably. The Veteran's status post umbilical hernia repair is also rated noncompensably.,The Veteran's chronic left ankle deltoid ligament strain condition remains at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is due to an in-service injury and not related to his pre-existing fracture. The claim was reopened based on new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for various hip, ankle, foot, and back disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service. The claims were based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was aggravated during service, warranting service connection for this condition.,His right ankle disability is secondary to his now-service-connected bilateral pes planus and also warrants service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability did not render him unemployable prior to January 15, 2016. The Board found that his other conditions and work history precluded him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for a right ankle disorder was granted. Service connection for erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, and neurological disorders were also granted. The rating for back disability is set at 20 percent effective April 11, 2009.

The Board has directed that VA examinations be obtained for the Veteran's claimed right foot, left foot, right ankle, left ankle, right knee, left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities. These issues are currently remanded to obtain these evaluations.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims can be adjudicated. The RO should request the Veteran's in-service clinical records, verify his periods of active duty for training or inactive duty for training, and obtain VA medical opinions to address whether his current disabilities are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle conditions, finding no current diagnosis of such disabilities and insufficient evidence to establish a link between any diagnosed condition and service.

The Board has remanded three issues: an increased rating for unspecified anxiety and depressive disorder, an increased rating for left ankle disability, and an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with these other claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for examinations to assess the Veteran's functional impairment due to his service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, a skin disability including sebaceous cyst and benign growth of the right hand, and a right ankle disability has been denied.,There is no current diagnosis of these conditions in the record. The Board finds that the evidence does not support finding that any of these conditions began during service or are related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability manifested by pain is granted as service connection, but his right ear hearing loss and bilateral leg disability (claimed as shin splints) are denied. The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral leg disability and residuals of TBI.,Service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disorders due to insufficient rationale in the April 2019 VA examination. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted since April 20, 2018.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has resulted in marked impairment from January 24, 2022, forward and the Board granted an increased rating of 20 percent for his condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The issues of prostate, erectile dysfunction, GERD, GI ulcer, and sleep condition are related to the Veteran's in-service stressors or symptoms.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a left ankle condition, right foot plantar fasciitis, and left foot plantar fasciitis are remanded due to the need for VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of these conditions.