Ankle decisions — 2023

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at a 30 percent rating, which approximates marked ankle disability. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms more nearly depict marked limitation of motion and instability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during service and has continued since then. Service connection for this condition is granted.,VA examination did not find hearing loss in either ear at the time of the January 2017 VA examination, but the Veteran reported worsening symptoms since that time. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded for a new VA examination to determine if current hearing loss disability exists and its etiology.,The Veteran's lumbar spine condition, bilateral knee conditions (left and right), left hand condition, and left shoulder condition are all remanded as the January 2017 VA examiner did not provide opinions regarding their direct relationship to service. A new VA examination is required for these claims.,The Veteran's left ankle condition and right ankle condition are both remanded as a new VA examination is needed to determine if current bilateral ankle conditions exist and their etiology.,The Veteran's balance impairment is also remanded as no opinion has been provided regarding its relationship to service. A new VA examination is required for this claim.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a left ankle strain is being remanded due to the submission of additional VA medical center records. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further review and consideration.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disorders are granted service connection, while the initial disability ratings for her left knee sprain prior to February 21, 2020, and since that date, as well as TDIU prior to May 18, 2021, are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his left ankle injury, bilateral hearing loss, high blood pressure, acquired psychiatric disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's reported symptoms and history.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of her knee disabilities, as well as her thoracolumbar spine disability. The cases are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, including lateral epicondylitis of the left elbow, left hip iliopsoas and iliotibial tendinopathy, right hip iliopsoas and iliotibial tendinopathy, metatarsalgia of the left foot, chronic ankle sprain with tendinopathy, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with foraminal narrowing, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with foraminal narrowing, patellofemoral syndrome of both knees. The conditions are found to be at least as likely as not related to active service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was found to have a noncompensable rating due to limited range of motion, with no flare-ups or additional functional loss. The Board denied the claim for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's left ankle condition. The claim will be adjudicated again with a new evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left ankle is granted. The claims for a left knee disability and a left shoulder disability are denied.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete development. The Veteran needs to provide any outstanding treatment records, and a VA examiner will be requested to determine if the current ankle and shoulder disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection. The issues of diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, cornea scar, and left ankle disability are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including breathing disorder, back disorder, headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee disorder, heart disorder, painful joints, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, obesity, vision disorder, intestinal disorder, and sleep apnea. The Board also notes that no presumptive service connection is being considered for any of the conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 4, 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for residuals of a left ankle fracture with osteomyelitis on an extraschedular basis, finding that the evidence did not present an exceptional disability picture so that available schedular evaluations were inadequate.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral ankle disability, and left shoulder disability due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that more development is necessary for the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and left wrist disability. The Veteran's current complaints and treatment records are insufficient to resolve these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected right and left ankle disabilities were received on January 18, 2018. The Board found no factually ascertainable increase in disability within the one-year period prior to this date, thus denying earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and an earlier effective date for his lumbar spine disability have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the remaining issues.