Ankle Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability and a bilateral foot disability, as well as increased ratings for left knee osteoarthritis and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease due to the Veteran's failure to appear for VA examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and a right ankle disorder have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities, with the exception of a right ankle disorder that may be related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include cardiomyopathy, reactive airway disease, obstructive sleep apnea, primary insomnia, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), left and right ankle strains, bilateral lattice peripheral retinal degeneration, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and migraine headaches, have a combined rating of 100 percent. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for an employment handicap due to his service-connected disabilities, as he has overcome any impairment to employability. Therefore, VR&E services under Chapter 31 are denied.

The Veteran's death was not caused by VA treatment or care, and the service-connected conditions did not contribute to his death. The appeal for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1310 is remanded due to unclear causes of death.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, but no higher. The claim for TDIU was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of his right hip, right knee, and left ankle conditions as they are not related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation from August 25, 2010 until his death on December 16, 2015.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and review of the evidence. The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, bilateral elbow, and left shoulder disorders are currently under consideration.

The Veteran's right ankle degenerative arthritis is granted as service-connected. The issues of right knee and right wrist disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused him to be unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since April 1, 2007. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's Parkinson-like symptoms are not considered to be a qualifying additional disability caused by VA medical care or treatment related to his March 2009 right ankle surgery. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of causation.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed. The Board has remanded several issues including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, heart condition, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral eye condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right thumb De Quervain's tenosynovitis is dismissed. The Board grants service connection for a cervical spine (neck disability), but denies service connection for bilateral upper extremity conditions, gastrointestinal disability, urethritis, and right ankle disability. Service connection for chest pain is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and inadequate VA examinations. The appellant's knee, back, and ankle disorders are being reviewed again for proper consideration.

Service connection granted for right ankle disability and left ankle disability as secondary to service-connected right ankle disability. A 10 percent rating is granted prior to June 11, 2021, for chronic sinusitis; a separate 10 percent rating is granted for rhinitis secondary to chronic sinusitis. Service connection denied for PTSD with depressive disorder and tenosynovitis of the right hand.,Service connection established for right ankle disability due to overuse/injury during service. Left ankle disability was determined to be aggravated by right ankle condition.

The Veteran's asthma is granted service connection due to presumed exposure in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The left knee and ankle disabilities are remanded for further evaluation, while the lumbosacral strain remains denied.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, and the appeal for a higher rating is denied.,A 10 percent rating prior to July 15, 2015, for varicose veins of the left lower extremity is granted. The appeal for a higher rating after that date is denied.,The Veteran's varicose veins are rated at 10 percent from July 15, 2015, to November 22, 2019, and denied for a higher rating thereafter.,A 40 percent rating from November 22, 2019, is denied for varicose veins of the left lower extremity.,The Veteran's right lower extremity disability is rated at 10 percent prior to November 22, 2019, and denied for a higher rating thereafter.,A 40 percent rating from November 22, 2019, is denied for varicose veins of the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's right and left ankle conditions have been rated at the maximum available rating of 10 percent prior to May 21, 2019. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.

The Veteran's ratings for ligament tear of the right ankle and residuals of a left ankle sprain were reduced from 40% to 20%, effective February 1, 2016. The appeal is denied as there is no evidence of ankylosis in either ankle.

The claim for service connection of residuals of cold injuries (to include the bilateral feet and the right ankle) has been reopened, but a new VA examination is needed to determine if these disabilities are related to service.