Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for urinary disability, skin disability, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and generalized joint pain (bilateral elbow, wrist, and ankle pain) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service or service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's reports of symptoms are being considered.

The Veteran's right ankle degenerative arthritis is rated at a maximum of 20 percent.,Throughout the period prior to August 15, 2013, the Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.,Financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment is denied due to the Veteran's ability to drive and ambulate despite his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that is related to his military service.,The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee and foot/ankle disabilities, as well as sinusitis due to insufficient medical opinions provided in previous examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and the identification of outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from May 1, 2010 to present.

The Veteran's bilateral flat feet are related to his military service.,The Veteran’s right ankle disability, diagnosed as posterior tibial tendonitis and osteoarthritis, is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of sleep apnea and initial increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, osteoarthritis of the right ankle, and GERD have been dismissed as his appeal was withdrawn by a valid written request.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right foot condition and its relationship to his service-connected right ankle sprain.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including ankle, elbow, foot, hip, knee, shoulder, wrist, neck, back, GERD, hypertension, and eye conditions. The evidence did not show any in-service injury or incident that could be linked to these conditions.,There is no current evidence of a diagnosed disability related to the claimed ankle, elbow, foot, hip, knee, shoulder, wrist, neck, back, GERD, hypertension, or eye disabilities.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease and joint disease is rated at 40 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board has remanded this issue due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the condition warrants an increased evaluation. For his TDIU claim since May 18, 2011, the Veteran meets the requirements as he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and major depressive disorder, are not sufficient to qualify for a TDIU due to his failure to submit the required VA Form 21-8940.

The Board has remanded the TDIU issue due to it being inextricably intertwined with other issues that are currently under development. The Veteran's employment history needs to be updated and verified.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle condition and right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied a separate compensable evaluation for the Veteran's left ankle disability other than the already service-connected lost motion. The issue of service connection for chronic sleep disturbance is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination findings and requests a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the current nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service treatment records contain in-service biopsies of breast growths and she reported pain and scarring due to her active service. However, no VA examiner has provided an opinion on whether the Veteran’s bilateral breast condition is related to her military service.,Service treatment records indicate the Veteran was treated for excessive vaginal bleeding and cervical polyps during service. She underwent surgery in 2010 which revealed uterine hypertrophy with intramural leiomyomata. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's condition pre-existed service and is not related to her active service.

The claims for service connection of right and left knee disability, right hip disability, and left ankle disability are being remanded. The claim for hypertension is also remanded as it may be related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board dismissed all issues of service connection for various conditions as secondary to Raynaud syndrome due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection claims, SMC based on aid and attendance, and an evaluation for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's attorney requested to review additional evidence.