Ankle decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The appeals are now pending and will be reviewed again with new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including back, knee, ankle, shoulder, and hand conditions. The reasons include a lack of examination addressing the impact of cold weather conditions during service.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from May 5, 2012 and effective date of Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits from the same date. The decision also grants an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of left ankle disability and hypertension, as well as his TDIU claim, are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining updated medical records and providing VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,Service connection is granted for obstructive sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and headaches.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and determinations regarding his bilateral hearing loss, back disability, left ankle disability, and TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome, degenerative arthritis, bilateral sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and ankle disability have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claims of service connection for various lower back, knee, ankle, and radiculopathy disabilities. The claims are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors regarding the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's migraines, right ankle condition, and bilateral plantar fasciitis have been granted service connection.,Service connection has been established for the Veteran's migraines, right ankle condition, and bilateral plantar fasciitis based on a finding of direct causation during military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities, finding that they are related to his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining and reviewing medical records, as well as deficiencies in existing VA examinations. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records and a new examination is required.

Service connection is granted for right ear sensorineural hearing loss, left ear sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus.,Service connection is denied for unspecified depressive disorder, right ankle degenerative arthritis, left ankle degenerative arthritis, right knee osteoarthritis status post total replacement, left knee osteoarthritis status post meniscal tear repair, right hip degenerative arthritis, left hip degenerative arthritis and femoral acetabular impingement syndrome, right wrist degenerative arthritis, left wrist degenerative arthritis, right shoulder acromioclavicular osteoarthritis and rotator cuff tear status post total replacement, left shoulder acromioclavicular osteoarthritis, right lateral epicondylitis, left lateral epicondylitis, neck pain, lumbar spine DJD, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease (DDD), lumbosacral strain, and radiculopathy.,Service connection is denied for coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and hypertensive heart disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims can be adjudicated. The case must be remanded for development in accordance with special development procedures as defined by VA regulations.

Service connection for migraine headaches is granted. The Veteran's right ankle condition, including a left lateral collateral ligament sprain, is rated at 10 percent prior to July 22, 2020 and 20 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's left ankle condition (left lateral collateral ligament sprain) has been service connected.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, including any additional range of motion loss during flare-ups or after repetitive use.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been remanded due to the need for further development. Effective August 17, 2017, a 20% rating was granted for gout of the left big toe and a 10% rating was granted for achilles tendonitis of the right ankle.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee bursitis status post mycobacterium infection. The other issues of service connection are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including frostbite residuals, fatigue, skin disorders, ankle and shin splints, respiratory disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or in-service injuries that could be linked to these conditions.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating for limited motion of the ankle. The Board denied a higher rating as there was no evidence to support ankylosis or any other condition that would warrant a higher rating.