Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left eye keratoconus and left ankle strain were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on pain, rest requirements, or episodic incapacity due to functional impairment.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has been rated at 10 percent since August 2018. The Board has granted a 20 percent rating, the maximum under DC 5271, for marked limitation of motion in the left ankle.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS, left ankle instability, lower back condition, and right knee pain as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted, and the claims for left ankle, left knee, and right knee disabilities are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right ankle disability due to lack of evidence of current disability at the time of filing and during the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is granted a 20 percent rating, effective January 8, 2021. The right ankle disability and bilateral hearing loss are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in his inability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted effective October 25, 2016, as he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability.,The claims for service connection for gastrointestinal and kidney conditions have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ankle, left knee, and right knee disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The Veteran's left shoulder tendonitis is related to an in-service injury, and service connection for this condition has been granted.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for a right ankle disability is denied.,Service connection for a left foot disability is denied.,Service connection for a left hand disability is denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety) is denied.,Service connection for a back disability is denied.,Service connection for right side sciatica is denied.,Service connection for left side sciatica is denied.,Service connection for a skin rash is denied.,Service connection for a right leg disability is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for metrorrhagia, right ankle strain, and major depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety due to a lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease that would qualify as 'active military, naval, or air service' and thus make her a 'veteran'.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for vertigo, left foot condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, left hip condition, and right hip condition due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's left foot disability was denied an increased rating before September 21, 2015.,A separate rating of 10% for plantar fasciitis is granted since February 7, 2021.,An earlier effective date of April 1, 2014, is granted for service connection of left foot rheumatoid arthritis and bilateral ankle rheumatoid arthritis.,The Veteran's right foot rheumatoid arthritis was also granted an earlier effective date of April 1, 2014.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a residual ovarian cyst disability, anemia, and a right ankle condition were denied. The claim for a left foot/toe condition (including hallux valgus and left 1st toe arthritis) was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to address the Veteran's theory of entitlement involving his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities and obesity as an intermediate step.

The Veteran's claim for a back disability was previously denied in August 2012 and became final. The Veteran submitted new evidence in May 2020, which led to the grant of service connection for a back disability as secondary to his existing service-connected condition.,A right ankle fracture was granted service connection effective January 18, 2021, based on the date the claim was received.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of various disabilities, including hearing loss, psychiatric conditions, sleep apnea, GERD, ulcers, prostate issues, hyperlipidemia, neck, back, ankle, elbow, eye glaucoma, foot, hip, shoulder, wrist, and knee disabilities are being remanded due to incomplete records and need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back, left shoulder, right knee, and right ankle disabilities have been remanded due to inadequate VA examinations conducted in August 2020. The Board requires new VA examinations with retrospective opinions to address the functional loss and additional impairment during flare-ups.