Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to complications from a right hip fracture resulting from a fall. The claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits is dismissed as moot because DIC benefits are considered a greater benefit.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly address the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected neck disability, right ankle disability, and deviated septum. The VA examinations conducted in September 2016 are deemed inadequate for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, bilateral knee disabilities, neck disability, and other joint disabilities due to inadequate development and examination.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including increased ratings for various conditions and service connection for additional disabilities. The Veteran will need to undergo further VA examinations to determine the current severity of his existing conditions and whether he is entitled to service connection for new disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete service treatment records from the Veteran's National Guard service. The VA needs to obtain these records using a properly completed Request for Texas National Guard Records form.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, low back disorder, left knee disorder, and left ankle disorder have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.,The Veteran's claim for fibromyalgia has also been reopened.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for left and right ankle arthritis due to a lack of informed decision-making, as well as potential changes in severity since his last VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gout, a foot disability (claimed as trench foot), left ankle and right ankle disabilities, and left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for posterior tibial tendonitis of the left and right ankles, as well as limitation of motion of the left ankle. Additional development is needed to address pronation symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus with calcaneal spurs has been reopened and granted. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for back, right knee, left knee, and bilateral ankle conditions secondary to bilateral pes planus.,Service connection is being remanded for the Veteran's claimed back condition, bilateral ankle condition, and bilateral knee conditions as they are secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus with calcaneal spurs.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ankle degenerative joint disease is granted, and the application to reopen his claim of service connection for left ankle injury is also granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot and ankle disabilities, finding no current diagnoses or evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to obtain and sustain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient testing in a previous VA examination and requests additional evidence and an updated evaluation for the Veteran's right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his ankle/foot disabilities, as well as a review of new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development in regard to his left ankle disorder, sleep disorder, right knee tendonitis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle disabilities due to a lack of an examination, and requests that VA provide an examination to determine if the Veteran has any disability related to her service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for sleep apnea and has remanded the issues of increased ratings for left ankle disability, urethral stricture, left knee disability, right knee disability, and PTSD. The decision is pending further action.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding records not being obtained. The Veteran is asked to authorize release of his treatment records from Wright-Patterson AFB and Castle AFB, and VA will attempt to obtain these records.