Ankle Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the issues of service connection for kidney disorder, neck disorder, sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), thyroid disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, left ankle disorder, and low back disorder as part of a previously pending appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of her right foot hallux valgus and heel spur disabilities, as well as the reduction in her disability evaluation for bilateral plantar fasciitis, have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the claims for service connection for right ankle degenerative changes (originally claimed as a right ankle sprain) and left ankle sprain.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective May 24, 2015, based on her service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety and other disabilities. The effective date for the TDIU was changed to March 2018 when she received a 70% rating.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including a right ankle fracture rating claim and service connection for various conditions. The Veteran will need to provide new evidence within 90 days of his scheduled hearing date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle scar, finding no current diagnosis of such and noting that the in-service injury did not result in a residual scar.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is related to service, and the claim for this condition has been granted.,The Veteran's left knee pain is related to her service-connected left foot disability, and the claim for this condition has been granted.

The Veteran's left ankle condition, painful conditions of the upper extremities, and skin condition are all remanded for further examination and medical opinion.,The Board is unable to make a determination on these claims without additional information or evidence.

The Board has reinstated the Veteran's right ankle disability rating from 20 percent to 20 percent, effective December 1, 2019. The reduction was not proper due to the Veteran's failure to report for a required VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea disorder and vitiligo was denied as there is no current disability or evidence of a relationship to service.,Service connection for right ankle sprain was granted, but the Veteran's claim has been rendered moot due to grant of service connection for adjustment disorder with alcohol use disorder.

The combined effects of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to maintain gainful employment, and his TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's headaches, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability are all granted service connection as they have been established by competent and credible testimony of observable symptoms that caused functional impairment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, limitation of motion of the ankle, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The issues are dismissed as they were fully addressed in a prior rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip osteoarthritis, left hip osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis of the right ankle, lateral collateral ligament sprain (chronic/recurrent) of the left ankle, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee, and left knee strain. The Veteran's current conditions are proximately due to his service-connected right hip osteoarthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to his knees and shin splints, as well as his ankles, should be remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran will need to undergo new examinations to determine if his disabilities are related to parachute jumps during active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for an increased rating for his painful medial right ankle scar and restoration of a previous 10% rating. The reduction from 10% to noncompensable was found proper, while the request for an increased rating prior to February 1, 2020 and thereafter was denied due to lack of evidence supporting worsening or additional symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional VA medical opinions to address the issues of service connection for Meniere's disease and initial rating for right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his left and right ankle disabilities has been dismissed due to the Veteran's representative requesting to withdraw the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left ankle chronic/recurrent lateral collateral ligament sprains, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service complaints and treatment.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and evaluation due to pre-decisional errors. The Veteran's left ankle, left knee, and right knee disabilities need to be reassessed.