Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to comply with previous remand directives.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee and left ankle disabilities, finding that these conditions are etiologically related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were remanded, and the issues are now pending again. The right ankle injury remains rated at 10 percent, while degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is also remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for TMJ disorder with bruxism and remanded the issues of a compensable disability rating for chorioretinal scar of the left eye, a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine prior to October 5, 2017, a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of chip fracture of the right ankle, and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left ankle.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at the maximum allowable under current criteria, and service connection for bowel and bladder incontinence is granted due to equipoise of evidence.

The Veteran's right calcaneal spur is granted service connection. The claims for left ankle, right ankle, and left little finger disabilities are remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ankle disorder and low back disorder, finding that both conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinus disorder, bladder disorder (including yeast infection), hypertension, heart disorder (including arrhythmia and ischemic heart disease), and left ankle strain due to lack of a current diagnosis in service or post-service. The claims are being remanded for additional development.,The Board has also denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinus disorder, bladder disorder (including yeast infection), hypertension, heart disorder (including arrhythmia and ischemic heart disease), and left ankle strain due to lack of a current diagnosis in service or post-service. The claims are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has denied service connection for a left ankle disability and remanded the issue of an initial evaluation in excess of 50% for PTSD. The Veteran's claim for a left ankle disability is not supported by evidence of a current disability, while his PTSD claim requires additional development including obtaining relevant VA employment records.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating of 20 percent for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's respiratory disability (other than allergic rhinitis) and throat disability have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.,Joint pain, foot disability, gastrointestinal disability, fatigue with light headedness, eye disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and schizophrenia) are all pending further examination and/or opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left shoulder strain, left ankle sprain, right knee sprain with patellar dislocation, and lumbosacral strain are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board dismissed the appeals to reopen service connection for tinnitus and a disability manifested by poor circulation in the legs, as the Veteran had died during the appeal process.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee, left hip, and left ankle disabilities as secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a lung disorder is reopened, and to this extent only, the appeal is granted. Service connection for PTSD, left leg disorder, and left ankle disorder are denied.

The Board denied service connection for left and right foot disabilities, including arthritis and pes planus, as well as left and right ankle disabilities (including equinus), finding no evidence of onset or continuity of symptoms during or within one year after service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate rationale provided by a VA examiner in their February 2020 examination. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left and right ankle disorders, left and right foot disorders, a left hand disorder, and residuals, fracture fifth finger right hand are being remanded as the VA examiner did not account for the Veteran's lay statements regarding pain in both ankles and his in-service findings. The issue of entitlement to service connection for residuals, dislocated right shoulder is also being remanded due to inadequate rationale provided by the VA examiner.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the right ankle lateral collateral ligament strain claim before a decision was made.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has been rated at 20 percent since March 9, 2018. The VA determined that the condition warranted a higher rating based on worsening symptoms and functional limitations.