Ankle decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of persistent edema or other conditions necessary to warrant an increased rating for varicose veins, and also found no in-service injury or disease related to his left knee, right knee, or right ankle conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral ankle disorders, right wrist disorder, arthritis of the hands, and bilateral leg disorders have been granted. The remaining issues are being remanded for further review.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection and rated at 20 percent. The right ankle tendonitis remains at a 20 percent rating, but the neck disability is granted an initial rating of 10 percent.

The Board has granted reopening of service connection for right foot pes planus and left foot pes planus, finding that the pre-existing conditions increased in severity during service. Service connection is also granted for back disability (arthritis), right wrist arthritis, left wrist arthritis, right ankle arthritis, left ankle arthritis, tinnitus, and bilateral ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to an improper form being used in the initial appeal process.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records. The right lower extremity disability claim is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle and/or foot disability, including bone spurs, is related to his active service. However, due to insufficient medical nexus opinions, the case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for a new examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate examinations and the need for further evaluation of his left ankle disability.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is denied as it is not factually ascertainable that an increase in the severity of his service-connected disabilities occurred within a year prior to December 17, 2015. The effective date for the grant of TDIU remains December 17, 2015.

The Veteran's GERD was granted an increased evaluation to 30 percent.,Other service connection issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's service connection claims for various skeletal system disorders, knee disabilities, thumb disability, hand disabilities, ankle disabilities, foot disability, hip disability, and shoulder disability.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right ankle condition does not meet the criteria for service connection, and has remanded the issue of her respiratory condition due to inadequate medical opinions. The case is now pending with instructions for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various foot conditions as secondary to residuals of a fractured right fourth toe due to insufficient information on whether these conditions were aggravated by the service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities due to a lack of VA examination. The TDIU and automobile/adaptive equipment eligibility claims are also remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claims.

The Board has found that additional examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right and left ankle disabilities. The claims for increased ratings are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and development to address the current severity of his left ankle disability, its impact on functioning including work-like functioning, and whether other disabilities also impacting ambulation or non-ambulatory functioning should be distinguished from those caused by his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left ankle osteoarthritis, tendonitis, and strain based on continuous symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TMJ disability is related to her active service and remanded for further examination of her knee, ankle, and foot disabilities. The issues of service connection for right and left knee disabilities, right and left ankle disabilities, and left foot hallux valgus are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right hip strain and right ankle sprain were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of flexion or abduction/adduction.