Ankle Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for left knee total joint replacement, right knee replaced broken leg, numbness in left leg and foot (secondary to left knee total joint replacement), left shoulder arthritis, lower back/lumbago, left ankle, and sinusitis. The reasons provided include the lack of a nexus between these conditions and active military service.,The Board found that there is no evidence linking any of these conditions to the Veteran's time in active duty.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bone chip, status post-surgical repair of the right and left ankles were denied by the Board. The current evaluations are 10 percent each.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment, resulting in a grant of TDIU. The issue of a separate rating for pes planus is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle condition, finding that there is no positive nexus opinion linking his current right ankle disability to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is related to service or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for migraine headaches prior to April 17, 2018 was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the schedular criteria.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to June 21, 2017 was also denied. The Board determined that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following gainful employment.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is being remanded for further evaluation and consideration of his claim.

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for service connection of various conditions has been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran now meets the criteria for service connection for a right knee strain.,Additional development is needed due to the Veteran's complaints of worsening symptoms and lack of recent VA examinations.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for further evaluation of his service-connected ankle disabilities and other conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep obstructive sleep apnea and a left ankle disability are being remanded due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are granted as service connected. The Veteran's left ankle disability is remanded for further examination.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and granted a 20% rating for the Veteran's right ankle disability, effective October 21, 2009. The appeal is remanded for additional development regarding PTSD.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis of the hands, ankles, and toes is granted service connection. The Veteran's Alzheimer's disease and cervical spine DDD are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar spine, left knee, right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's right hip, right ankle, and low back disabilities are granted service connection.,Prior to February 7, 2021, the Veteran was awarded a compensable rating for left shin splints.

The Veteran's right ankle disability and scar are granted service connection. His generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder are granted a rating of 70 percent effective September 25, 2019, with a separate rating for instability due to his knee condition. The Veteran is also granted TDIU effective July 3, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left hip conditions, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, left ankle osteoarthritis, and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss as they were not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities have been rated at 20 percent each, effective July 18, 2013. The Board has granted increased ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for bilateral pes planus, claimed as plantar fasciitis; left ankle condition; right ankle condition; left knee condition; and right knee condition. The appeals are dismissed.