Ankle Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine/neck disorder, lumbar spine/back disorder, right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, right thumb disorder, and bilateral hearing loss as the appellant did not have a disability during ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA that was aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left ankle pain, finding that the Veteran's unexplained ankle pain is presumed to be related to his service in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The Board has remanded the remaining issues for further development.

The Veteran's initial rating for left ankle disability is remanded due to unclear examination results and the need for clarification of additional loss of ROM.,The Veteran's initial rating for low back disorder prior to February 9, 2021, and from that date forward is remanded due to conflicting examination reports and the need for clarification of additional loss of ROM.,Service connection for skin disorder is remanded due to lack of nexus opinion and need for clarification regarding exposure at Ft. McClellan, AL.,Service connection for left knee disorder is remanded due to lack of nexus opinion and need for examination.,Service connection for headaches is remanded due to lack of nexus opinion and need for examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee limitation of motion and instability due to changes in rating criteria effective February 7, 2021. The RO is instructed to consider both old and new rating criteria when adjudicating these claims.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left ankle disorders as secondary to stress fractures of the tibia, finding that there is no medical evidence supporting a causal relationship between the Veteran's service-connected tibial disabilities and his ankle conditions.

The Board has determined that new VA examinations are necessary for the Veteran's service-connected left ankle sprain and bilateral plantar fasciitis, as the previous examinations did not account for flare-ups and functional loss.

The Veteran's right ankle avulsion fracture is rated at 10 percent, and his thoracolumbar spinal stenosis with spinal fusion is rated at 20 percent. The issues of a compensable rating for bladder disturbance associated with the Veteran’s thoracolumbar spine disorder and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.,The Veteran's right ankle avulsion fracture remains rated at 10 percent, while his thoracolumbar spinal stenosis is rated at 20 percent. The issues of a compensable rating for bladder disturbance associated with the Veteran’s thoracolumbar spine disorder and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine, right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since September 2, 2008.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, leaving no issues for the Board to consider.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a right ankle disability and remanded it for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, low back disability, bilateral ankle disability, left knee disability, and bronchitis. The decision also found that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the November 1985 and September 1987 rating decisions denying these conditions.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated as 10 percent prior to March 11, 2019 and denied for a rating in excess of 10 percent from that date. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for her left knee, right knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to conflicting evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions. The issues include left ankle, left knee, and right tibia fractures disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial disability ratings are remanded due to insufficient evidence of the current severity of his right foot and ankle disabilities, including any residuals. The Veteran also has a TDIU claim that needs further development.

The Veteran was granted effective dates of January 1, 2014 for various disabilities including bilateral plantar fasciitis with bilateral calcaneal enthesopathy, left and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with arthritis, left elbow lateral and medial epicondylitis with arthritis, right elbow lateral and medial epicondylitis with arthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.,The effective dates were granted based on the Veteran's original claim filed in July 2013.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for his right ankle disability from March 18, 1995 to July 15, 2015.,DIC benefits were also granted under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his death in July 2015.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and radiculopathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities. The Veteran's left knee partial meniscectomy is granted a separate 10% rating.