Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's left ankle, lower back, and left hip disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected right ankle disability. The current opinions from Dr. RM were inadequate as they did not consider all relevant evidence and failed to discuss the effects of altered gait, impaired weight-bearing, and repeated falls associated with the right ankle.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right knee and left ankle disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his right knee disability, as it only warranted a 10 percent rating prior to September 27, 2019, and a 60 percent rating thereafter. For his left ankle disability, he was granted a 100 percent rating from August 17, 2018, but the Board found that the evidence did not support an even higher 30 percent rating due to marked limitation of motion of the ankle.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, and her sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are each rated at 10 percent. The TDIU claims from January 21, 2015 to March 2, 2021 have been granted, but the TDIU claim from March 3, 2021 has been denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection based on a finding of continuous symptoms since service. The right shoulder, left ankle, and knee disorders were denied as not incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ankle sprain with instability and degenerative arthritis, left ankle sprain with instability, and right knee internal derangement status post posterior collateral ligament tear have been denied. The VA has determined that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is not considered to be caused by VA treatment, and the Board finds no fault on VA's part in providing care. The case was remanded for an addendum opinion regarding MRI testing, but the evidence does not support granting compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's initial and subsequent ratings for right ankle degenerative joint disease have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to June 17, 2017, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 30 percent from December 1, 2014 to May 8, 2017. A higher rating for the entire period on appeal is denied. The Veteran's left ankle scars are rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral ankle condition, finding that there was no nexus between his current disability and his military service. The Board noted that the Veteran did not have any documented treatment or complaints related to his ankles during service, and that the earliest evidence of his ankle condition came years after he left active duty.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot and right ankle disabilities due to new and material evidence. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's arthritis of multiple joints, including of the bilateral hips, knees, hands, thumbs, ankles, and lumbar and cervical spine, was not shown as chronic in service or related to an in-service injury. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ankle disability that began during active service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms in service are not adequately addressed by the November 2015 VA examiners.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral gout, finding that the evidence does not show a relationship to service or service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted prior to December 21, 2010, due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right ankle, left ankle, right knee, and left knee. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injuries during his time as a member of the Navy wrestling team.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain is now rated at 40 percent, effective July 19, 2016. His subpatellar chondromalacia of the right and left knees are both rated at 20 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right ankle, fibula, and tibia disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to her service-connected bilateral knee disability. The Veteran will be asked to provide authorization for non-VA treatment records and a VA examination will be scheduled.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral ankle disorder and right knee disorder due to issues with the March 2019 VA examination and medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right ankle degenerative joint disease was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have, as likely as not, precluded him from maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work history since March 12, 2016.