Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability was received in August 2016, and the effective date of his award is March 2, 2018. The Board denied an earlier effective date as there was no evidence of a left ankle disability prior to March 2, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder, including a left heel spur, finding that there was no evidence of an etiological relationship between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examinations and opinions, requiring further medical evaluation and opinion.

The Veteran's right ankle and left ankle disabilities are rated at 20 percent each, the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The Veteran's right hand and fingers disability is rated at 10 percent as of January 24, 2019.

Service connection for a right ankle disability, bilateral foot disability (including pes planus and/or right foot plantar fasciitis), and tinnitus has been granted.,The Veteran's current diagnoses of right foot plantar fasciitis, bilateral pes planus, and tinnitus are related to his service.

The Veteran's pleurisy claim was not reopened, COPD service connection was denied, and right ear hearing loss service connection was denied. Right hip disability and right ankle disability secondary to service-connected bilateral foot disability are remanded for further review.,Right hip disability and right ankle disability secondary to service-connected bilateral foot disability are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle disorder and lumbosacral strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities. The right hip disorder and TDIU issues are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective August 16, 2017. He also received a TDIU effective that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now pending. The issues of entitlement to service connection for degenerative disc disease, spinal spondylitis, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) remain on appeal.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for prostate condition, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and left knee disability. The claim for residuals of head injury is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeals of right knee and right shoulder disorders, granted service connection for IBS, and remanded other issues due to lack of adequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations. The issues of service connection for various disabilities, including a left ankle disability, eye disability, thyroid disability, low back disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability (reopened), right knee disability, left knee disability, headaches, and hemorrhoids, are being addressed.

The Veteran's left ankle sprain and tinnitus have been granted service connection. However, the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment from October 1, 2011 to December 31, 2016. After that date, the evidence does not show he was able to obtain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus, right knee disability, left knee disability, back disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability due to incomplete service records and need for further development of the Veteran's disability benefits.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient rationale in the medical opinions provided. The Veteran's conditions are being requested to be evaluated again with specific attention to his history of gait disturbance.

The Board has remanded several issues due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between service and certain disabilities.,These include lung disability, headache disability, dermatological disorder, bilateral foot disability, sleep disorder, hip strain, and ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection for her knee and ankle disorders due to incomplete examination reports and inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected left ankle sprain was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted.