Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of December 11, 2014 for the award of a TDIU. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following gainful employment as of that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as his bilateral ankle disabilities. The issues are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations in previous decisions.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E services, including education in Eastern Medicine, is remanded due to the need for further development and a new vocational rehabilitation evaluation considering all of the evidence of record.

The Board has denied service connection for basal cell carcinoma and remanded the right ankle disability claim due to incomplete records.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to determine if the Veteran's low back and left ankle disabilities are related to service, including any in-service injuries or events.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of his right knee, right hip, left hip, bilateral foot, bilateral ankle conditions, and joint pain are granted as they are found to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations regarding these claims were inadequate and remanded for further action. The Veteran's hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, bilateral eye blindness, back disability, right hip disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, left ankle disability, and psychiatric disability (depression) are all being reviewed due to their inextricable connection.

The Board denied service connection for a heart murmur, right ankle disorder, GERD, and gastritis as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's claimed disorders because the medical records do not show any current diagnoses or symptoms related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for reopening service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete records and new evidence is needed.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis and left ankle fracture residuals have been rated, with some issues granted and others denied. The decision is mixed as it includes both granted and denied elements.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic lumbar spine disorder has been reopened and remanded. The claims for left knee disability, flat feet, depressive disorder, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), right hip disability, and history of left ankle fracture are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disorder and right foot/right ankle disorder due to insufficient information regarding her periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The VA will need to obtain this information and provide additional opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination reports that did not address the Veteran's competent and credible statements regarding continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to increased ratings for residuals of left ankle sprain, right ankle arthritis, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis. Additionally, the effective dates for the 10 percent ratings assigned to right and left foot hallux valgus are being addressed.

The Board has denied service connection for neck, left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, and both feet disabilities as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle condition, finding that there is no current diagnosis of such a condition and that it is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for arthritis of the left knee, right knee, and right ankle due to inadequate opinions from the June 2020 VA examiner. The examiner did not address websites cited by the Veteran's representative or the Veteran’s contentions regarding joint pain persisting since service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric and physical conditions, make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issues of service connection for a headache condition, left ankle condition, low back condition, and scar on right eye.