Ankle decisions — 2023

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeals regarding the service connection for bilateral shin disability, a rating for lumbar strain with degenerative joint and disc disease, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, right ankle strain, and left ankle strain. As such, these issues are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to various issues, including asbestos exposure and its relation to sarcoidosis, as well as his bilateral ankle disabilities and hearing loss. The VA is directed to conduct further development in these areas.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine/neck disability, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy (including as secondary to the now service-connected cervical spine disability), headaches disability (including as secondary to the now service-connected cervical spine disability), left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left ankle disability, and left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn all remaining issues.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection of left shoulder and left ankle disabilities due to outstanding STRs and incomplete medical records. Additional addendum opinions are needed to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected orthopedic conditions have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education, skills, training, and work history.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee and foot conditions, including gout of the right knee prior to November 15, 2017, and left knee with limitation of extension prior to July 28, 2016, were denied. The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for gout of the left great toe prior to March 24, 2015.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board has remanded for further development regarding a separate rating for tarsal tunnel syndrome. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, PTSD, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, and pain and swelling of the left leg have been dismissed as moot due to prior grants of service connection.,Service connection has been granted for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right ankle disability prior to July 29, 2013. An additional VA examination is required to provide a retrospective opinion on the range of motion and functional loss.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and addendum opinions regarding his left ankle disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches, sleep disturbance, and fatigue are remanded due to the need for a TERA opinion.,The Veteran's service connection claims for back, left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities are remanded due to the need for an examination addressing both etiology and pathophysiology of the conditions.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a right foot disability (claimed as pes planus) is remanded due to the need for a TERA opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding his claimed disabilities, particularly those related to secondary service connection. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various joint and foot disabilities on a secondary basis to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's sinusitis is presumed to be causally related to presumed exposure to fine particulate matter during his service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War. The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, but remanded for further development on other issues.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran is also remanded for additional examinations related to his claimed disabilities, including bilateral feet, ankles, knees, shoulders, skin, frequent urination, migraines, PTSD, acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and Bell's palsy.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of physical therapy notes from 2014-15, and for further development.

The Board denied service connection for lower back, left leg sciatica, left ankle, and left heel/foot conditions as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's claim for major depressive disorder is dismissed as the RO granted service connection for a persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress and an insomnia disorder.,The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is denied. The evidence does not show limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or more, which would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5260.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus is granted as the evidence supports that his tinnitus had its onset in service.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral plantar fasciitis (claimed as 'flat feet') is denied. The VA examiner found no clear and specific etiology of the condition, attributing it to a prolonged period without complaint after service.,The Veteran's claims for left shoulder condition, left knee condition, bilateral ankle condition, and left hip condition are all denied. No evidence supports their onset or relationship to service.,The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is remanded.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, right shoulder impingement syndrome, and right hip condition are all remanded.,The Veteran's claims for a hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are both remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a headache condition, left ankle condition, left heel spur, pes planus, and right heel spur were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has been granted an increased rating of 20 percent, and his right ankle ankylosis has also been granted a 20 percent rating.