Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for a disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left ankle chronic synovitis, status post fracture with degenerative joint disease is denied. The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected left ankle surgical scar is granted and assigned a 10 percent rating effective from August 31, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and migraines have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,Specifically, the Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the current diagnoses of left ankle disorder and right ankle disorder with service.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for major depressive disorder and left ankle disability, as new evidence has been added to the record since their last supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his degenerative arthritis of the low back, left knee, and left ankle due to inadequate VA examinations. The case is being returned to the Board for further development and examination.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability, which was initially rated at 10 percent and later increased to 20 percent, is now denied for a higher rating due to the current manifestations not meeting the criteria for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus, lumbosacral strain, and ankle contractures, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's residuals of fractured left ankle and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and right leg shortening, but denied service connection for a cervical spine fracture. The decision is based on new evidence received since previous decisions.

The Veteran's claim for an extraschedular TDIU from June 30, 2009 to December 29, 2014 was denied as the preponderance of the evidence did not show that he was unable to secure or follow any form of substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral ankle and left knee disabilities, including as secondary to service-connected gouty arthritis, and entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for gouty arthritis due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in a combined evaluation of 100% as of August 11, 2017. The Board has granted TDIU effective from that date due to the severity of his service-connected conditions preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

Your appeal to increase the rating for your right ankle sprain, status post tendon surgery, has been dismissed as you have withdrawn your appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left foot disability is related to service or her right ankle disability, and if so, whether it was caused by or aggravated by her right ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and a statement of the case regarding his service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, shell fragment wounds to the left upper arm, ankle and foot with retained foreign body, and forearm. The issue of entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as moot due to the Veteran's receipt of a 100% disability rating for PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The case is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal disabilities and sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions in these matters. The Veteran is not shown to have a hearing loss disability, and his right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, left knee, and right ankle disabilities are remanded for additional examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and leg and ankle pain have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination. The claim for PTSD remains denied as new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, while the claim for leg and ankle pain is granted as new evidence addresses an unestablished fact.

The Veteran's left ankle disability claim is remanded due to the need for updated medical records and a new VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for right shoulder, back, and abdominal disabilities. The left jaw scar and acne issues are remanded.

The Veteran's initial rating for a back disorder and left ankle disorder is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA regulations.