Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for both conditions were inadequate and remanded to provide further evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been granted, but the specific details of the grants are not provided in this decision.

The Board has determined that there are pre-decisional duty to assist errors in the Veteran's claims for service connection of ED, bilateral knee conditions, and bilateral ankle conditions. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left ankle disability and a compensable initial disability rating for a left wrist fracture, finding no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA opinion to determine if any of the Veteran's current disabilities, including orthopedic residuals from his in-service left ankle injury and peripheral neuropathy, are related to that injury.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of her service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for acid reflux, right ankle disability, and gastrointestinal condition have been dismissed. A 70 percent rating has been granted for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his lumbar spine condition and TDIU status has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for the lumbar spine disability, as it did not meet the criteria for an increased rating. For TDIU, the Board noted that the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities prevented the Veteran from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The petition to reopen the previously-denied claim for service connection for right ankle tremors is granted. The Veteran's claims for increased rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and service connection for a right ankle disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected anxiety and depressive disorder.,The Veteran's appeal is also remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected right ankle sprain.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's left ankle disability is not service-connected, while his lumbar spine disability remains under review.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining adequate etiological opinions regarding the bilateral shoulder disabilities and determining whether any of the ships on which the Veteran served were within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam while the Veteran was aboard. The appeal will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings on several conditions, including a foot disorder, lumbar disc disease, right ankle condition, right shoulder acromioclavicular separation with impingement syndrome, left lower shin disability, and headaches. The appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to issues related to neck condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and left ankle disorder. The Veteran's attorney requested separate ratings for PTSD with TBI based on symptoms that could be differentiated.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and right ankle disability have been granted initial ratings of 10% each, with the left knee flexion limitation being the only issue that warranted a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, ankle, and knee disorders due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between her in-service treatment and current conditions.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was initially rated at 10 percent prior to February 28, 2019 and granted a 20 percent rating thereafter. The malunion deformity of the talus (astragalus) of the right ankle is also rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's uveitis was denied as there were no compensable evaluations available.

The Board has denied service connection for a right wrist disability, left hip disability, lumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (diagnosed as depression).,There is no evidence of any current disabilities related to the Veteran's claimed conditions. The preponderance of the evidence does not support finding that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to in-service injuries.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right knee disability to include arthritis, left ankle strain, hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism are remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for hearing loss.,Service connection was also denied for a right ankle disability.