Ankle decisions — 2023

The Veteran's PTSD with sleep disturbance was rated at 70 percent from October 15, 2016 to August 13, 2018. The Board found that the severity, frequency and duration of his PTSD symptoms more closely approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas during this period.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for left ankle, right ankle, and back disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates and service connection for Graves' disease, bilateral knee disabilities, and bilateral ankle disabilities. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding ankylosis of the left ankle prior to April 13, 2023. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of a left ankle fracture with traumatic arthritis prior to April 13, 2023 is also remanded.

The Veteran's left ankle arthritis is granted on an aggravation basis, and his left knee osteoarthritis is granted. The right knee meniscal tear is granted with a 30% disability rating, subject to flare-ups.

The Board has determined that new VA examinations are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, as the previous opinions were based on a lack of evidence in the service treatment records and did not adequately consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms during service.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, left ankle disability, lumbar spine disability, and headache disability. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.,There is no credible evidence showing that the Veteran has any current heart disability or left ankle disability since his active duty service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for left ankle and left knee disabilities due to new evidence received. However, it is determined that the Veteran did not incur an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, thus denying both claims.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral elbow and ankle disorders, as well as genitourinary disorder and erectile dysfunction due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, right hip, and right hamstring conditions due to conflicting medical opinions. The Veteran's shortness of breath and chest pain are also being considered in relation to her respiratory condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various hip, knee, leg, spine, ankle, and foot disabilities due to inadequate opinions regarding their relationship to periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA).

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a left foot disability and bilateral ankle disorder due to inadequate medical evidence in the record. The Veteran is required to be examined by VA to determine if his current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability evaluation for service-connected left ankle scars has been denied as the scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under DCs 7801 and 7802.,The effective date for the award of a 20 percent disability evaluation for service-connected lumbosacral strain is set at June 26, 2018, as it was more than one year after the Veteran filed his claim.

Service connection is granted for bilateral plantar fasciitis, left knee strain, right knee strain, left ankle tendonitis, right ankle tendonitis, left hip trochanteric pain syndrome and iliopsoas bursitis/tendinitis, and right hip trochanteric pain syndrome and iliopsoas bursitis/tendinitis.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluation, service connection, and other issues due to insufficient evidence from previous examinations. The Veteran needs additional VA examinations to determine the current severity of his right knee condition, etiology of his sleep disorder, bilateral foot conditions, right ankle condition, and sinus condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that any current ankle disorders were not related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues with left ankle sprain and respiratory disorder. The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of marked limitation of motion.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been remanded due to the complexity of the issues.,No new or material evidence was presented, so no changes in rating were granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle and/or foot disability, including pes planus. The VA examiner provided negative opinions for these conditions without considering the Veteran's entire medical history.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee arthritis and strain, but denied service connection for his right knee disorder (including arthritis), right shin splints, left shin splints, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and right foot disorder. The decision is based on the finding that the preexisting left knee disability was aggravated by service.