Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's hysterectomy is denied as not related to service, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Other claims for respiratory condition, right ankle condition, left ankle condition, and neck condition are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The appeal for increased ratings in several other conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and varicose veins, is being remanded.

The Veteran's right ankle strain is rated at 20 percent since August 29, 2019. Prior to that date, the rating was increased to 20 percent.

The Board dismissed all appeals seeking service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, allergic rhinitis, anemia with vitamin D deficiency, and other medical issues. The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history, resulting in the denial of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal in July 2020, indicating satisfaction with the decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right inferior calcaneal spurs, as well as his right hand condition and right carpal tunnel syndrome. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder is also denied. His gastritis remains rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, finding that his service-connected left ankle disability alone does not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including post-operative residuals, meniscal tear, lateral instability, and ankle & knee arthritis, is rated at 30 percent since March 14, 2016. The issues of entitlement to higher ratings are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further development, including an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding passive range of motion measurements.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability. The Veteran's prostate disorder, left hip replacement, lumbar spine disability, diabetes mellitus type II, bowel disability, and Grave's disease are all remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for updated medical records, examinations, and development of his TDIU claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle condition, finding that there is no causal relationship between his current ankle condition and his military service.,The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for Hepatitis C due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its onset or etiology.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and TDIU on an extra-schedular basis, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's musculoskeletal disabilities of the right leg and arm are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, bilateral ankle disorder (secondary to knees), and lumbar spine disorder (secondary to knees) due to in-service physical demands during basic training.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his left ankle/foot disability, skin rash, and right eye condition. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left ankle/foot disability, a skin rash, and a right eye condition are all being remanded.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for left ankle instability and remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea and increased rating for left ankle sprain.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed left hip, right ankle, and left ankle conditions. The VA examiners were not satisfied with their previous opinions due to lack of consideration of the Veteran's reports of in-service symptoms and the impact of his pre-existing polio.