Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has granted a higher rating of 20 percent for his service-connected right ankle degenerative joint disease, sprain, and weakness.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis was dismissed. The claims for service connection for right elbow and lower back disorders were granted, while the claim for service connection for right ankle disorder was denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for right knee, right ankle, left ankle, right foot, and left foot disabilities. The issues are inextricably intertwined with a higher rating claim for the left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right ankle disability due to inadequate VA examination and lack of substantial compliance with previous orders.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, left shoulder, right shoulder, cervical spine arthritis, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to the benefit of doubt being afforded to the Veteran's claims.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches, low back disability, cervical spine disability, left knee disability, and right ankle disability. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also being remanded due to its inextricability with other issues on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for a special home adaptation grant is dismissed as moot due to the award of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing. The TDIU claim is remanded for extraschedular consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left ankle disability, kidney disorder (to include kidney stones), diabetes mellitus, type II, sleep disorder (to include sleep apnea), and left arm carpal tunnel syndrome. The reasons provided were that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for residuals of a stroke has been granted. The right and left ankle disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his knee and foot conditions, have impacted his ability to work. The Board finds that additional development is necessary due to the need for an examination considering the occupational limitations caused by these disabilities during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back strain, sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, left ankle injury, and left hand injury have been denied. The Board found that the current evaluations adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Board has decided to take jurisdiction over the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disorders due to his implied request to rescind earlier requests to withdraw those issues. The Board finds that another VA medical examination is required as prior examinations are insufficient to address the question of secondary service connection.

The Board has decided to remand three cases involving increased disability ratings for the Veteran's service-connected left ankle arthritis, right ankle fracture with osteoarthritis, and postoperative residuals of the left knee. The decision is based on the need for additional development including obtaining private treatment records from UC Health and VA treatment records from February 2021 to present, as well as an examination to assess current severity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since October 26, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder. The Board also denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for dizziness disorder. Tinnitus was granted as a new condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for hemorrhoids was granted effective July 12, 2012. The claim for a higher rating for postoperative bond block on the left ankle remains denied.,A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae, chronic athlete's foot (onychomycosis), left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and right shoulder disability due to the need for additional examinations and treatment records.

A 30 percent rating, but no more, for anterior compartment syndrome and right ankle achilles tendonitis is granted. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD remains on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD was restored to a 70 percent rating effective August 1, 2018. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.