Ankle decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, right flank, and left ankle disabilities due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right ankle condition and hemorrhoids, finding that these conditions began during his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical strain is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and the medical opinion does not support a direct relationship to service.,Service connection for spondylosis of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve), left knee osteoarthritis with osteophyte formation, right knee chondromalacia with degenerative changes, and right hip strain with limitation of extension are all denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and the medical opinion does not support a direct relationship to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral ankle arthritis as secondary to his service-connected disability of pes planus.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all listed conditions, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right foot condition, right ankle condition, and back condition due to additional evidentiary development.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of the current 20 percent or 10 percent ratings assigned.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability and a right foot disability, including fibroma of the plantar fascia. The evidence did not support finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service injuries.,The Veteran's current diagnoses are attributed to post-service development, with no credible evidence linking them to his military service.

The Veteran's claimed foot, knee, shoulder, and lumbar spine disabilities are not service-connected as they do not have a direct link to his military service. The headaches also lack a service connection due to the absence of evidence linking them to service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle rash, right ankle rash, left foot rash, and right foot rash. Service connection for ulcerative colitis is also granted.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at a maximum of 20 percent under the criteria for limitation in range of motion. The Board has granted this evaluation, finding that the Veteran's symptoms and functional loss warrant such an assessment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right ankle disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded to allow for additional examinations and consideration of the evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle lateral ligament sprain and tendinopathy is related to service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle, knee, and hip disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU effective June 30, 2013.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a left ankle disability is denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD).

The Veteran's right ankle scars were not found to be disabling and did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. A 10 percent rating was granted for painful right ankle scars.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle primary osteoarthritis, finding that it had its onset during active duty due to marching in ill-fitting boots.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on four issues (left knee condition, high blood pressure, right ankle condition, and sleep apnea) are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder alone precludes her from maintaining substantially gainful employment, and she is granted a TDIU rating. Additionally, the Veteran is granted SMC based on housebound status due to her other service-connected disabilities.