Ankle decisions — 2024

The Veteran's left ankle scar is painful and meets the criteria for an initial 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as his range of motion is at worst limited to 5 degrees dorsiflexion and 20 degrees plantar flexion. The evidence does not support higher ratings based on marked limitation of motion or other criteria.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and a neck disability. However, the evidence does not support finding that these disabilities are related to service.,Service connection was denied as there is no persuasive evidence showing that the current right ankle or neck disabilities began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to a failure to obtain necessary VA examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of lumbar spine, cervical spine, and left ankle disabilities before the Board could make a decision.

The appeal of the denial of right ear hearing loss is dismissed. The claim for traumatic arthritis of the right ankle is remanded and readjudicated.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals of service connection for right peroneal tenosynovitis, a right peroneus brevis tendon disability, a left ankle condition, and a left foot condition.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates of service connection and compensable evaluations were granted, with the earliest date being July 31, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral pes planus, and degenerative arthritis of the right ankle, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from December 15, 2011 to January 17, 2017. The Board granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition was denied in August 2015, and the Board found no new and relevant evidence to support reopening of this claim. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted based on his combined disability rating meeting the schedular criteria. Service connection for neck, shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, and foot conditions are all denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are considered, and a new examination is required to determine if he requires aid and attendance or is housebound due to his conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his cervical spine disability from September 9, 2011 to January 1, 2014, or for his left ankle disability. Service connection for hypertension was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining an expert opinion to determine if his muscle condition is proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability. The effective dates of all current ratings are also being reviewed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripapillary atrophy of the right eye is granted, and his claims for left ankle pain are remanded. The Board also remanded other issues related to back conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased rating for TMJ dysfunction, service connection for generalized osteoarthritis of the hips, shoulders, ankles, and hands, and service connection for prostate disorder due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's PTSD is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and development are necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, disability ratings, and psychiatric issues. The appeals will be remanded to allow for further review of the evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left tarsal tunnel syndrome, finding that it is related to his service-connected left ankle sprain and lumbar spine radiculopathy. The appeal for staged disability ratings for left ankle sprain residuals remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle degenerative arthritis, but the issue of service connection for abdominal pain is remanded.,Service connection will be further evaluated and a new opinion requested to determine if the Veteran's current abdominal pain is related to her military service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 30 percent, effective August 13, 2009. The claim for an increased rating remains on appeal.,The Veteran's initial rating for right elbow lateral epicondylitis based on impairment of supination and pronation was denied. A separate rating for limitation of flexion is also denied.,A higher rating for the same condition based on limitation of extension is also denied.