Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a back disability, bilateral foot or ankle disabilities (excluding arthritis), and bilateral wrist disability due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as he has maintained employment throughout the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are remanded due to inadequate evidence. The claims for service connection of left ankle disability and migraine headaches also require additional development.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ankle and bilateral eye disabilities as he did not timely appeal the Statements of the Case (SOC).,The Board denied service connection for a left leg disability, finding that there was no evidence linking it to his service-connected left ankle disability or any in-service injury. The VA examiners found that the Veteran's current left knee osteoarthritis is related to normal aging rather than service.

The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and right ankle disability were previously denied in a September 2004 rating decision. The Board has now reopened these claims due to new evidence received since the last denial. However, the claims are still pending as they have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, and thus grants a TDIU.

The Board has decided that the claims for bilateral ankle disorder, sleep apnea, and hypertension (including as due to PTSD) need further examination and evaluation before a final decision can be made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed right and left ankle disabilities were not incurred in service or caused by his service-connected low back and bilateral knee disabilities. The VA examiners provided thorough explanations for their findings.

The Board has denied service connection for a pinched nerve condition and remanded the issue of service connection for a left ankle disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right hamstring disorder. The claims for left ankle, sacroiliac, lumbar spine, GERD, and pseudofolliculitis barbae disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, right ankle strain, and right elbow degenerative arthritis are all granted service connection. The decision is based on the current disability, in-service injury or disease, and a nexus between them.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the disability, but has also remanded the issue of an extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's esophagitis, right ankle status post achilles tendon repair, and left ankle sprain disabilities were all rated at the lowest possible level (10%) throughout the appeal period. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's application for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance and/or adaptive equipment was denied because his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility under VA regulations.

The Veteran's left ankle disorder, including sprain, ligament tears, and tenosynovitis, is related to his active service. The claim for service connection has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and rating, including a new examination for left ankle and left knee disabilities due to unclear findings in previous examinations. The TDIU issue is also being remanded as it may be impacted by the results of the left knee rating.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for headaches, right knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and sleep apnea have been granted.,Service connection has been established for these conditions based on their direct relationship to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one should be scheduled for a VA examiner to determine if the Veteran has any diagnosed left ankle disability and if not, whether any pain alone may constitute disability.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that the Veteran did not have an in-service disease or injury to his right ankle and there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service due to his service-connected knee and ankle disabilities preventing him from securing and maintaining gainful employment.