Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate previous VA examinations and insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his ankle disabilities and restless leg syndrome. The claims are being returned for further development, including additional medical examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to his current conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder, IBS, tinnitus, left ankle sprain, and right ear hearing loss, do not render him unemployable as his employment history shows he has been able to maintain some level of education and work experience. The Board finds the evidence does not demonstrate total occupational impairment associated with these disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as the evidence did not demonstrate that his service-connected disabilities alone rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis with plantar fibromatosis, degenerative arthritis of the right foot, degenerative arthritis of the left foot, degenerative arthritis of the right ankle, and degenerative arthritis of the left ankle due to inadequate opinions from VA examiners.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle disability, left shin splints, and lower back condition due to insufficient medical opinions and a need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to inadequate VA examination, and requires a new one for determining the nature and likely cause of the Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities.

The Board has determined that the appellant had active Federal service from March 14, 1960 to September 13, 1960 for purposes of basic entitlement to VA benefits. The claims for service connection and TDIU are being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, left knee (status post knee replacement), right knee (status post knee replacement), left ankle, and right ankle disabilities. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various hip, knee, and ankle conditions due to incomplete development and lack of medical opinions addressing all relevant issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection, finding that November 30, 2011 is the correct date for the grant of service connection for arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The cases are remanded for further development on issues related to lumbar spine, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral knees disability, and bilateral shoulders.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right arm disorder and low back disorder with radiculopathy, but has remanded her claims for service connection for vestibular disorder (vertigo), right hip disorder, left knee disorder, and right ankle disorder.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted as service-connected, related to his ACDUTRA training. The left knee total reconstruction claim remains pending due to insufficient medical opinions.,The low back, right leg, and left upper thigh disabilities are not found to be directly related to the right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a right shoulder disability and a right ankle disability due to new evidence or clarification from the December 2016 VA examiner's report.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left wrist strain and migraine headaches, but granted a 30 percent rating for migraine headaches effective October 14, 2016. The Board also denied service connection for sciatica, back disability, and left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased evaluation for residuals of right ankle injury, service connection for narcolepsy secondary to service-connected disabilities, and service connection for dizziness secondary to service-connected disabilities due to pending development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for spine, left ankle, right ankle, and neck disabilities due to a lack of sufficient medical opinion regarding whether these conditions are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected right foot disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right ankle disability were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability related to service, and his claims for increased rating were also denied.

The Board has denied service connection for a right ankle disability, but remanded the issue of service connection for a left ankle disability due to insufficient evidence.