Ankle decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of left ankle condition, right ankle condition, bilateral pes planus (also claimed as left foot condition), respiratory condition, left shoulder condition, left knee condition, neck/cervical spine condition, and lower back/spine/thoracic spine condition have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's appeal for further development, including scheduling a new VA examination and providing appropriate notice of how to substantiate a claim for entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, including tenosynovitis, has been granted service connection. Service connection for left and right knee disabilities is also granted.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding throat disability and right ankle disability. The appeal for service connection of right ear hearing loss was granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and lack of opinion regarding continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's right ankle strain is rated at 10 percent from August 23, 2010, to December 29, 2019. The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the entire period on appeal prior to December 30, 2019.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for right ankle sprain residuals is granted. The issues of service connection for a right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and a rating of more than 10 percent for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis since October 31, 2013 are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for right trigger thumb disability, left trigger thumb disability, residuals of a right ankle injury, residuals of a right knee injury, sleep apnea, and bilateral flat foot disability have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,These issues are being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen the claim for entitlement to service connection for a low back condition. The claims for neck, right wrist, right hip, right ankle, and bilateral foot disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted service connection, and his right ankle degenerative joint disease and left ankle strain are granted a 20 percent rating. The initial evaluation for left knee degenerative joint disease remains at 10 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle disorders, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Board also found that the Veteran's current disabilities are not due to his military service.,For TDIU, the Board determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria as he has only noncompensable service-connected disabilities (tinea pedis and tinea unguium) and is unable to work due to non-service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability caused or aggravated his left knee, left ankle, and lumbar spine disabilities. The examiner is to consider obesity as a potential intermediate factor.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic condition related to his current symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear service dates and a need for clarification regarding the Appellant's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). The claims for service connection are also pending, as no SOC has been issued.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left foot disabilities, as well as right and left ankle disabilities, are being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of these conditions during active service or their relationship to any incident of service.

Service connection for a right foot disability and a right ankle disability has been granted, but only to the extent that they are related to service. The Veteran's preexisting conditions were not aggravated by her period of service.,The Veteran's low back/lumbar spine disability and tension headaches have not been reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and ankle disabilities, as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for left foot hallux valgus. The evidence does not support current diagnoses or functional impairment for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis is rated at 100 percent effective February 24, 2020.,A TDIU was granted beginning March 13, 2017. The issue of a TDIU for the period when the 100 percent rating is in effect is moot due to the grant of special monthly compensation based on housebound status.,Special monthly compensation at the statutory housebound rate is granted effective February 24, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left ankle strain, right and left knee strain, and right and left hip strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left ankle disability is service-connected, but has remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his liver disability. The issues of service connection for both conditions are now pending.