Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and need for a new examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence of a current left ankle disability related to service, and a VA examination is needed.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remand directives and requires another remand for several tasks, including obtaining VA treatment records from Van Zandt VAMC and other facilities, as well as a medical clarification regarding the Veteran's low back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to service and therefore denied her claim. The right knee and foot disability ratings are remanded for further evaluation, as well as a new examination of the residual surgical scars on the right ankle.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has granted them as to lumbosacral spine, neck, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities. The remaining claim of service connection for bilateral eye condition is still pending.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's left shoulder disability, but remanded the issue of service connection for his right ankle disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, right and left lower extremity diabetic sciatic neuropathy, hypertension, right ankle degenerative disease, and left foot hammertoes, are sufficient to render him unemployable. The Board has granted TDIU.

The Veteran's hypertension is not rated as compensable, and the Board finds no current disability for other claimed conditions.,The Veteran does not have a service-connected gall bladder removal or its residuals. The VA examiner found no symptoms associated with his gall bladder removal.,There is no evidence of a current right shoulder disability during the appeal period.,There is no evidence of a current left shoulder disability during the appeal period.,There is no evidence of a current left ankle disability during the appeal period.,The Veteran does not have a service-connected right knee disability during the appeal period.,The Veteran does not have a service-connected left knee disability during the appeal period.,There is no evidence of a current lumbar spine disability during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for back, neck, and left ankle conditions. The claims are related to in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations and unclear notification of examination schedules.

The Board has denied service connection for left hand CMC joint arthritis, back disorder, skin disorder (psoriasis), anxiety disorder, right ankle disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and seizure disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.,Further examination is needed to address the etiology of the Veteran’s current diagnoses.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for UTI and GERD have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeals. The Board has also remanded cases regarding bilateral knee disability and left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various knee and ankle disabilities, as well as left ear hearing loss. The claims are being returned to VA for further development.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for the Veteran's right ankle disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination findings and missing medical records. The Veteran's cervical spine, left wrist, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities are all rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his appeal for TDIU, including on an extraschedular basis, is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and service connection have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.,Her claim for new and material evidence to reopen a previously denied chest pain claim has been granted, but the case is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate VA examination reports. The issues of increased ratings for left ankle strain, right ankle strain, and left knee traumatic arthritis with limited motion are pending.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional evidence, including private treatment records from the Veteran's healthcare providers. The Veteran is advised to provide authorization forms for these records.