Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of left hip, right ankle, and bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran testified that his current disabilities began during active service while performing boxing activities and drills.

The Veteran's tinnitus, left foot callouses, and right foot callouses have been granted service connection. The low back disability has also been reopened for further review.,Service connection is established for arthritis of the ankles, but not for the left wrist or knee.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to new evidence added since the last decision. The Veteran will need a VA examination for his bilateral plantar fasciitis and an addendum opinion regarding his right ankle condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee, right ankle, left ankle, and lumbar spondylosis disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since June 1, 2014. The Board has granted a TDIU rating for this period.

The Veteran is seeking increased initial ratings for service-connected IBS, right ankle disability, and thoracolumbar spine disabilities. The May 2003 rating decision establishing these conditions did not become final due to the submission of a notice of disagreement within one year, thus revision on CUE cannot be granted.

The Veteran's dyshydrosis dorsal of the bilateral feet and ankles was found to not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the current VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to comply with the Court's October 2020 Memorandum Decision, which found that VA did not fulfill its duty to assist by failing to obtain the Veteran's complete service treatment records. Specifically, it was noted that the records may be relevant to determining the appropriate level of disability of the Veteran's ankle.

The Veteran's IBS has been granted presumptive service connection. The right ankle disability is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, low back disorder, right ankle degenerative arthritis, right shoulder degenerative arthritis (status post reverse total shoulder arthroplasty), left shoulder degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis. The rating assigned is 60 percent.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent prior to March 25, 2022 and denied for a higher rating. A TDIU is granted.,Service connection for left foot disability, right foot disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability is remanded.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding his claims of service connection for tinnitus, heart block, and an increased initial compensable rating for his service-connected heart murmur. The Board also granted service connection for right ankle strain and left ankle strain, but denied service connection for a left thumb disability.

The Veteran's right ankle disability and residuals of cholecystectomy were each increased to a 10 percent rating effective August 23, 2019. The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left ankle disability has been withdrawn and dismissed due to his opt-in under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA). The AMA system was activated, but only for the back disability claim. The left ankle disability claim remains in the Legacy appeal system.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, left knee, low back, acquired psychiatric disorder (e.g., PTSD, Anxiety, Depression), GERD, hemorrhoids, hypertension, left ankle, right ankle, left elbow, left shoulder, left wrist, right wrist, and sciatic nerve disorders affecting both lower extremities are all service-connected.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including bilateral hearing loss, heart disability, neurological disabilities of the upper and lower extremities, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and PTSD. Additional medical opinions are needed regarding the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, which includes a chronic sprain and post-traumatic fracture, is rated at 20 percent prior to October 30, 2020. The rating remains at 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal of TDIU is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of SMC based on need for aid and attendance or on account of being housebound, due to additional development needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings or service connection based on his claimed conditions.