Ankle decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions and new evidence submitted by the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal with respect to all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected fracture of the left ankle with non-union fibula and chronic osteomyelitis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU and his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to clarify the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral ankle disability, as the current medical evidence does not adequately address this issue.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain medical records and provide the Veteran with a VA examination for his claimed disabilities. The appeal is currently remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back and shoulder conditions, are sufficiently severe to render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to June 27, 2011.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various lower extremity and hip disorders, including as secondary to his service-connected left foot and ankle disabilities. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the current diagnoses of all claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the Veteran's service periods and obtain relevant medical records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new examinations and the issuance of a statement of the case on certain issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his right and left ankle disabilities, as well as any convalescence required after surgery. The case will be readjudicated following this.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of service dates and treatment records related to his ankle injury in 1982. He also needs a VA examination to determine the relationship between any current left ankle and leg conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records and scheduling a VA examination to address the issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for another VA examination to determine if any right ankle disorder is related to service, including multiple sprain injuries during service. The Veteran must be notified of this remand and given an opportunity to respond.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertensive heart disease, hyperactive bladder, right hip disability, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right knee and left knee disabilities, right ankle sprain, and furunculous of the neck and back, are found to prevent him from obtaining or retaining employment. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ankle degenerative arthritis, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected left ankle degenerative disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his left ankle disability and right ankle sprain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, stomach disorder, left ankle disorder, and left Achilles tendon disorder are pending. The Veteran does not have established hearing loss related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to assess his left ankle sprain.

The Veteran's claimed lumbar spine, foot, ankle, and joint pain disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service. Joint pain is not related to service.