Ankle decisions — 2023

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for service connection of a left ankle disability, and the Board has dismissed the case as a result.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral pes planus was withdrawn. The appeals for a higher rating for right wrist and ankle sprains were denied, with the right ankle sprain being remanded due to insufficient evidence. Service connection for left ankle disorder and psychiatric conditions is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including shoulder, hip, ankle, and spine issues, are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The issues of cervical strain, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis, right knee strain, left knee strain, right finger joint condition with rheumatoid and stiffness (right finger condition), left finger joint condition with rheumatoid and stiffness (left finger condition), right wrist rheumatoid arthritis (right wrist condition), left wrist rheumatoid arthritis (left wrist condition), left ankle condition, cardiac condition, and skin condition have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disorders have been dismissed due to the failure to include them in his initial appeal. The Board has remanded several of these issues, including left ankle, left hand, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left foot disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including total abdominal hysterectomy, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, bilateral plantar fasciitis, chronic depressive disorder, right and left ankle tendonitis, bilateral Morton's neuroma, hallux valgus right foot, and hallux valgus left foot, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the evidence of record.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle and right foot disabilities, finding that the Veteran's preexisting conditions were aggravated by his active duty service.,Service connection was also granted for left ankle and left foot disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle and right foot disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to multiple in-service ankle sprains. The appeal was reopened due to new and material evidence submitted since the prior final decision.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus, right ankle disability, and right knee replacement due to dishonorable discharge. The case is remanded for further examination regarding bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his left shoulder strain, left ankle sprain, right knee sprain with patellar dislocation, and lumbosacral strain are being remanded due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations.

The Veteran is granted TDIU due to her service-connected headache disability and SMC based on a single service-connected disability rated as 100% disabling. The left ankle, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and other conditions are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for an increased initial rating for his left ankle disability and service connection for a bilateral knee condition are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee and left ankle disabilities due to lack of current diagnoses. Service connection for a spine disability is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability and a thoracolumbar spine disability. The right ankle sprain is considered presumptively incurred in service, while the thoracolumbar spine condition is presumed to have existed prior to service.,Both conditions are now recognized as being related to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder, knee, ankle, and right elbow disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions provided in July 2023. The VA is instructed to provide a supplemental opinion addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted by the RO in September 2019, and this appeal is dismissed as the benefit sought has been granted.

The Veteran's right and left ankle DJD have been granted increased disability ratings of 20 percent each, effective June 18, 2015.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, which includes tendonitis, stress fractures, and complex ligament ruptures, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board has granted this evaluation based on marked limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability due to failure to appear at scheduled examinations. The case is now pending for further development.

The Veteran's claims for right ankle, knee, hip, and low back disabilities have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions during the period under consideration.,VA has not found any clinically significant right ankle, knee, hip, or low back disability in the Veteran's records.