Ankle decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The issues include headaches, bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral hip disabilities, bilateral ankle disabilities, and bilateral foot disabilities (other than pes planus).

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including fibromyalgia and various hip, ankle, groin, eye, heart, and other conditions. The VA is required to obtain medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his request to withdraw all issues from appeal.

The Board has remanded two issues for further development: compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left shoulder disability as a result of parotidectomy performed at VA in October 2011, and service connection for right ankle disorder secondary to service-connected bilateral foot disabilities.

The Veteran is entitled to the maximum Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) benefits due to his discharge from active duty due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for acute ankle sprain and chronic pain, right knee (including as secondary to acute ankle sprain).

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine, left hip, right hip, left ankle, and right ankle conditions due to the absence of a currently diagnosed disability.

The Veteran's service-connected mental disabilities and physical conditions make her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. However, the claim is remanded as more information is needed regarding her employment status.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but no higher. The TDIU claim was denied as the Veteran can still engage in substantially gainful employment despite his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and left ankle achilles rupture due to incomplete medical records and inadequate VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a left ankle condition and remanded it for further development.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted as service-connected. The claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis, left ankle condition, and right ankle condition are remanded due to incomplete records and need further examination.

The Veteran's left ankle DJD and left wrist tendinitis are granted service connection. The right ankle disorder is remanded for further review.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's VA treatment records and his VR&E files, as these documents are relevant to the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's dry eye syndrome is granted with a 20 percent rating, and the maximum schedular evaluation for tinnitus is denied. Other claims are either denied or remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for left ankle condition, lumbosacral strain, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to potential aggravation by service-connected right ankle condition. The VA examiners are instructed to provide opinions on whether these conditions were caused or aggravated by the right ankle condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an increased rating of a right ankle disability and denied service connection for dental disabilities (teeth #9 and #10) for compensation purposes.

The Veteran's right ankle blisters were not found during examinations and no treatment records show the condition. The claim for this issue is denied.,There is no evidence of a neurological disability of both hands in service or related to service. The claim for this issue is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right ankle disability has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck condition and a left ankle disability were denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the current conditions and service, with the exception that the Veteran’s neck condition may be secondary to his service-connected low back disability.