Ankle Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including TBI, respiratory condition, skin condition, back condition, bilateral knee and ankle conditions, and pes planus. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment from October 1, 2017, to December 17, 2021. Since then, his combined rating is 100%, making the TDIU claim moot.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, which is rated as degenerative arthritis, has been granted a rating of 20 percent since January 22, 2015. The Board found that the Veteran experienced marked limitation in range of motion throughout the appellate period.

The Veteran's left cubital tunnel syndrome is granted as service connected. The extension of the temporary total disability rating for left knee degenerative joint disease under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 until January 31, 2007, is also granted.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the right ankle disability from December 16, 2008. The Veteran's symptoms of stiffness and severe painful limitation of motion have been found to approximate marked limitation of motion in the right ankle, including on weight bearing.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle and left pinky injuries. The case will be returned to the Board after completion of this development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding his cervical spine disability, right and left ankle disabilities, and foot disabilities. The issues of entitlement to service connection for these conditions are now before the Board.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, should be remanded due to insufficient opinions regarding whether his weight gain and obesity are caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's current mental health issues did not manifest during or as a result of his active military service.,The Board also denied service connection for a right ankle disorder, concluding that there was no evidence of inservice injury and that any current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions provided in a previous remand. The case is now returned for further review.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding her lumbar spine, left hip, right ankle, left ankle, and costochondritis conditions.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's left ankle disability, finding that his symptoms do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability, including degenerative joint disease (DJD), finding that her current condition is not attributable to her military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee, left ankle, right eye, and left eye disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records show complaints of knee pain during a 'track run' in service, but no specific diagnosis or treatment. Eye disability was noted in service with conjunctivitis, but the current visual field defect is not related to that incident.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a service-connected left ankle sprain and an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left ankle and left knee disability, finding no evidence to support these conditions or their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disabilities, including rheumatoid arthritis and as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development and readjudication.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The issue of rating in excess of 0 percent for left knee instability is remanded.

The Board has found the April 2015 VA examination inadequate for decision-making purposes and has ordered a new examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right ankle disability, including testing for pain on passive range of motion and non-weight-bearing.

The appeal for entitlement to service connection for a left foot disability is dismissed. The appeal for entitlement to service connection for a right foot/ankle disability is remanded.