Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The Veteran also sought TDIU benefits but was found not to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder, finding that there is no currently diagnosed chronic left ankle condition and thus no basis to grant service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right-ankle and left-ankle conditions.,The Board also remanded the issue of an increased rating for the Veteran's left-knee condition.

The Veteran's lumbar DDD has been granted a restoration of a 40 percent rating, effective the date of reduction.,Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to service-connected lumbar DDD at the L4 vertebra is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his right wrist condition, back injury, ankle condition, knee conditions, and Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) due to incomplete medical records and inadequate opinions regarding etiology.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims for increased ratings for gouty arthritis of the right great toe and left ankle and initial compensable disability evaluation for kidney stones are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left ankle condition, left hip condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inextricably intertwined issues and inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's increased ratings for his service-connected left ankle disabilities are remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for service connection of right ankle, left knee, and back disabilities is granted. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claim for a TDIU to include extraschedular consideration due to inextricably intertwined issues of increased rating for IVDS and service connection for heart condition, hepatitis A, and sleep apnea. The Veteran is also required to provide an updated work history from 2013 to present.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed left ankle disability, which may be related to his service in Southwest Asia. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection for right and left ankle disabilities. The Board finds the preponderance of evidence against a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee strain.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the severity of the left ankle strain. The Veteran's claim for service connection for posttraumatic headaches remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has remanded them due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board denied service connection for posttraumatic headache disorder, left foot disorder, left ankle disorder, DJD of the right knee, DJD of the left knee, and lumbar spine disorder.,There is no evidence in the STRs or VA treatment records that supports a link between any of these conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the Veteran's claim for an initial (compensable) rating for right ear hearing loss disability. The claims for service connection for a left ankle disorder, Meniere's disease, and left ear hearing loss disability are remanded due to additional VA records needing to be obtained and further examination required. The claim for an increased rating for degenerative spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection were dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities, including depression and back pain. The Board has granted TDIU based on the impact of these conditions.