Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral heel pain and swelling, right ankle impingement, and left ankle impingement have been rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has denied service connection for left hip, left ankle, and right ankle disorders due to the lack of current diagnoses prior to the Veteran's filing of claims.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss was also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a low back disability has been granted. The claims for increased ratings and TDIU are still pending.

Service connection for a left knee disability has been granted.,Secondary service connection for right knee patellofemoral syndrome has been granted as it is related to the service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and a combined disability rating of 80 percent due to procedural issues. The Veteran is also being asked to provide updated treatment records and undergo a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation prior to June 11, 2012 was denied as he did not have a single service-connected disability rated at 100 percent or permanently housebound due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation prior to June 11, 2012 was denied as he did not have a single service-connected disability rated at 100% and there is no evidence of housebound status due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the left knee disability. The claim for service connection of all conditions is pending and will be addressed after a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to June 23, 2015, for service connection of various shoulder and knee conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder was denied. The appeals for service connection for left ankle condition and bilateral foot disability, as well as the TDIU claim prior to June 29, 2017, are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not properly adjudicated due to procedural issues and remands them for further development.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was previously rated at 10 percent, but a higher rating of 20 percent is granted effective August 28, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, left hip disorder, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and right ankle disorder. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims of in-service injury or disease.,There is no credible evidence linking any current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's GERD is granted with an initial rating of 30 percent, but no higher.,VA examinations are needed to assess the severity of his cervical strain and right ankle disorder due to lack of information regarding functional limitations during flare-ups. The VA examiner must also provide opinions on whether these disorders are related to service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder and major depressive disorder need further evaluation by a VA examiner to determine their etiology and relationship to service-connected conditions.,VA examinations are needed to assess the nature of the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder, including its relation to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right lower extremity disabilities met the criteria for SMC at the K level effective April 26, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, left knee, right knee, right ankle, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities due to incomplete examination reports and conflicting findings.

The Veteran's left ankle and right ankle disabilities have been granted initial disability ratings of 20 percent each, effective prior to October 23, 2017. The esophageal condition has been granted a maximum disability rating of 60 percent.,The Veteran’s service-connected conditions are currently rated as follows: left ankle - 20%, right ankle - 20%, and esophageal condition - 60%

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating. The remaining claims for increased ratings are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for left knee, right knee, and right ankle conditions have not been reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for insomnia has been reopened.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability has been reopened.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability has also been reopened.