Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the evidence did not show he was unemployable due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for high ankle sprain was denied, but his service connection claim for a lip twitch disability was granted. The issues of increased ratings for upper and lower back strains are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis with hallux valgus, right knee disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating determinations due to the Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination. The claims are not decided at this time.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for depressive disorder. The claims for right knee, left knee, and left ankle conditions are remanded due to lack of VA treatment records. The psychiatric disability claim is also remanded for additional medical opinion regarding the onset and relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and service connection have been dismissed.,The Board has remanded several issues including those related to the Veteran's knees, ankles, feet, lumbar spine, and headaches.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a PTSD rating is denied as there were no pending claims prior to the October 5, 2016 application.,A TDIU rating is granted effective October 5, 2016 based on the Veteran's service-connected PTSD disability.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as his right ear has Level II hearing and left ear has Level I hearing.,Service connection for a left ankle condition is remanded due to lack of evidence in the record.,Service connection for a bilateral knee condition is also remanded due to lack of evidence in the record.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus is related to his active duty service. The other claims for bilateral hearing loss and erectile dysfunction were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or a relationship between the conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral eye disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and left ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,Additionally, the claim for TDIU prior to August 27, 2018 is also being remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral flat feet and left heel spur are service-connected, as is fibromatosis of the hips, knees, ankles, and feet. The claim for asthma secondary to allergic rhinitis is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various hand, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, including for COPD and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims are being reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant withdrew his appeal for service connection of a left ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to various disabilities, including PTSD, hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, right ankle disability, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, chronic fatigue syndrome, joint pain, muscle pain, headaches, cardiovascular symptoms, respiratory problems, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed for these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left ankle disabilities. The claim is reopened, but service connection will be addressed again.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle and right leg disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The Board found that new evidence has raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims, but more information is needed regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an examination to determine if any current low back/lumbar spine or right ankle disabilities had their onset during active service, including a reported fall from a trailer in Iraq in 2008. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is denied as it preexisted service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a back disability was granted. Service connection for tinnitus and an increased rating for left ankle disability were also granted, while the issues regarding PTSD and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he has the skills and experience to perform sedentary jobs such as a bidding contractor or headhunter.