Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he passed away during the appeal process.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of left ankle arthritis, right knee disability, and right hip disability as they are duplicates of other pending appeals. The Veteran's claim for service connection for atrophy of right lower extremity with weakness is granted due to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding earlier effective dates and higher disability ratings for various conditions, including left hip arthritis, peripheral vascular disease, degenerative arthritis with lumbosacral strain, right knee arthritis, and ankle strain. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the withdrawal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances due to lack of evidence showing that the use of his lumbar spine brace, right ankle brace, or skin cream caused wear and tear on his clothing.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and left ankle sprain due to deficiencies in the medical opinions provided. The appellant is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are currently denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions provided prior to the June 2019 SOC. The VA must obtain addendum medical opinions addressing whether any currently diagnosed conditions are related to his in-service combat training and running with heavy equipment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative arthritis with strain was denied. The Board also found that the Veteran's left ankle disability is not service connected.,The Veteran's left ankle disability, diagnosed as a strain, has been denied service connection due to lack of evidence of disease or injury during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, as well as her left ankle sprain disability. The RO is instructed to obtain VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions and consider new service department records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for depressive disorder with anxious distress, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and tinnitus have all been granted. The conditions are deemed to have onset during service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with tendon insufficiency, now claimed as left ankle, is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent. The appeal for a higher evaluation is denied.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not granted a compensable rating.,For the period from March 23, 2017, to April 27, 2018, the Veteran received a maximum schedular rating for IBS under Diagnostic Code 7319. For the period since April 27, 2018, the Veteran's IBS has been manifested by moderate symptomatology with frequent episodes of bowel disturbance.,The Veteran's sinusitis did not meet criteria for an increased rating as it was not characterized by incapacitating episodes or a history of sinus surgery.,The calluses on the bilateral feet were not painful and collectively measured less than 144 sq. in., thus not meeting criteria for an increased rating.,Right and left knee disabilities have been manifested by findings of limitation of flexion resulting in additional functional loss, but did not meet criteria for a higher rating as they are already at the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5260.,The Veteran's right knee instability was granted an initial 30 percent rating and left knee instability was granted an initial 10 percent rating based on moderate recurrent lateral instability.,Radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities has been rated at 20 percent, consistent with moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.,The Veteran's TMJ disability is related to a service-connected disability and thus granted service connection.,Crohn's Disease was not found to be incurred or aggravated during service.,Respiratory disability and sleep apnea were not found to be incurred or aggravated during service.,Right and left ankle disabilities were not shown in service and are not otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated examinations and opinions regarding his right ankle disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim being inextricably intertwined with the initial rating claim.

The Veteran's appeal to receive higher ratings for his service-connected right and left ankle instability with painful motion has been withdrawn by the Veteran's representative, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Patellofemoral Syndrome with Right Chondromalacia Patella, Bilateral Ankle Tendonitis, and Bilateral Painful Pes Planus.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for discogenic right sciatic radicular pain (partial paralysis right sciatic) as it was granted in a prior rating decision. Service connection was established for other conditions, including chronic sinusitis, PTSD, and various musculoskeletal issues, all presumed related to Southwest Asia service.

The Veteran's psychiatric condition, lumbosacral strain, and left ankle disability have been rated as per the criteria since July 31, 2019. The effective dates for SMC based on housebound status and DEA are also set to this date.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is caused by his service-connected lumbar spine condition, and the claim for service connection for this secondary disability has been granted.

The appeal is granted for service connection of PTSD, extraction of 4 wisdom teeth, fractured rib, left ankle pain, left knee pain, left wrist pain, refractive eye surgery, and right shoulder bursitis. The appeals of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and entitlement to service connection for right shoulder bursitis are dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU).