Ankle Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle peroneal tendonitis, right ankle degenerative arthritis, left foot degenerative arthritis, and right foot degenerative arthritis. Service connection is also granted for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine but denied for basal cell carcinoma of the upper lip.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral foot pain (pes planus) and bilateral ankle pain. The issue of service connection for upper extremity joint pain, including left shoulder, right shoulder, and right wrist conditions, is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded four issues for further development and consideration: service connection for a low back disability, respiratory disability (claimed as COPD), left ankle disability, and sterility. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the AOJ for additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a right ankle disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The claims file will be updated with any new records, including military personnel records and treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a left ankle disability is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of this condition.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been restored to its prior 20% rating effective October 1, 2017.

The Board has determined that the etiological opinions provided by VA examiners are not based on an accurate factual premise and lack probative weight. Therefore, these claims are remanded for additional development.,VA examiners have failed to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms and their continuity since service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left ankle disability due to the July 1987 MVA is denied.,Service connection for osteoarthritis of the lower back and hypertension secondary to PTSD are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back, bilateral knee, and bilateral foot/ankle disorders due to inadequate VA opinions and unaccounted for active duty periods.

The Board has remanded the claims for a VA examination to determine the current severity of service-connected right ankle degenerative joint disease, status post fracture.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted a rating of 20 percent, effective December 2, 2016. Service connection for hip and ankle disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and granted it. The claims for service connection of his feet, ankles, and knees disabilities are remanded due to lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of MDD, residuals of a fractured nose, left shoulder nerve damage and numbness, left ankle disability, and residuals of a broken rib have been REMANDED due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right elbow, right ankle, and right knee disorders due to a lack of sufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current symptoms are related to service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent effective March 1, 2020. The scars related to his right ankle surgery are not compensable.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his claimed psychiatric and ankle disabilities. The AOJ must obtain new VA examinations to address these issues.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence supports readjudication of the claims for service connection for allergies, chest pains, headaches, sleep problems, low back disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and right knee disability.,New evidence includes VA treatment records indicating diagnoses such as insomnia, anxiety, migraines, adjustment disorder with depression, and PTSD. The Veteran's history of service-related symptoms is also relevant.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of March 23, 2021 for service connection of venous insufficiency status post great saphenous vein ablation in the left lower extremity.,An earlier effective date for left foot pes planus with left foot calcaneal spurs is dismissed as it was not appealed within one year of its initial grant.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a right ankle disability and a temporary total evaluation due to convalescence. The remand is necessary to obtain an estimation of the Veteran's right ankle ranges of motion during flare-ups at the time of previous VA examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, indicating satisfaction with the decision and wishing to withdraw all remaining issues.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent disability rating for left ankle scar is granted. The Board finds that further development is necessary before a decision on the merits may be made regarding his increased disability rating for left ankle disability, service connection for left foot disability secondary to service-connected left ankle disability, temporary total evaluation for left plantar instep fasciotomy, and TDIU.