Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ankle injury and hypertension, as well as his claim for TDIU are remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and additional records.

The Board has determined that the dates of active duty and National Guard service need to be clarified before further adjudication can occur. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including lower back, left arm, right arm, left wrist, right wrist, left-hand, and right-hand conditions. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of these conditions during service or within the applicable presumptive period.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her healed left ankle fracture with a left ankle strain is granted, but the case is remanded for further development.,A new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the March 1980 or February 2009 rating decisions regarding service connection for various conditions. The claims were denied based on a lack of evidence supporting these conditions during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, which suggests a right ankle condition existed prior to service. The VA examiner will be asked to provide an opinion on whether this condition is related to service.

The Board has determined that more development is necessary prior to final adjudication of the claim on appeal, including obtaining updated VA examinations and considering new evidence. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have worsened since their last evaluations, and a remand for further examination is required.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, right knee patellar tendonitis, and recurrent right ankle strain has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of her appeals.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition, left ankle condition, and diabetes mellitus. The evidence supports the Veteran's claims that these conditions were incurred during his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus, left ankle talocalcaneal coalition with associated left tibialis posterior tendonitis, and other orthopedic conditions, render him unemployable prior to August 1, 2016.

The Veteran's right ankle surgery required a six month convalescence period, and the Board granted an extension of his temporary 100% rating to April 25, 2013.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective from April 19, 2007. The appeal for a higher rating prior to February 3, 2015 remains pending. For the period after February 3, 2015, the issue of an extraschedular evaluation has been referred to the Director, Compensation Service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was previously rated at 10% and remanded for a new examination to assess the current severity of his condition. The case is being returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are rated at 90 percent combined, and the Board finds that they preclude his participation in substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience. A TDIU rating is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee, left knee, right foot, left foot, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of low back, bilateral ankle, visual disabilities, nonservice-connected pension and TDIU. The claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is denied. The issues of service connection for right knee, left knee, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of a nexus to his military service.,The Board also remanded several issues related to right shoulder, hip, ankle, foot, headache, and psychiatric disabilities due to insufficient development.

Your increased rating for right knee collateral ligament tear with limitation of motion is denied.,The Veteran's left leg condition, low back condition, and bilateral pes planus are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).