Ankle decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his ankle, foot, and knee disabilities. The issues of peripheral neuropathy are also being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the back disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating for thoracolumbar strain with scoliosis and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. A compensable rating was granted for patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee. The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for right knee osteoarthritis and residuals of right ankle fracture were also denied.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain with instability, post-osteochondral fracture of talus is currently rated at 10 percent and denied a higher rating. The lumbar strain claim was remanded for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions provided by the VA examiners. The claims will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the previous VA examination did not contain the required range of motion findings and remanded for further development, including scheduling a new VA examination. The matter is now being returned to the Board for adjudication.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, low back condition, bilateral knee and ankle conditions, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension. The decision also remanded the claim for a higher rating for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability. The claims for left and right ankle disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current right foot/ankle condition to his military service, including an in-service injury. The VA examiner concluded that there was no relationship between the Veteran's current condition and any prior injury or event during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an additional VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left ankle disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ankle disability, finding that it is related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disorder, finding that his current left hip condition is not distinct from his service-connected back and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's back disorder, right hip disorder, and right ankle disorder have been granted initial 10% disability ratings.

The Board denied the petitions to reopen previously denied claims for service connection for left knee disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability. The claim for upper respiratory disability other than service-connected laryngeal spasms was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to initial disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected thoracolumbar spine, left knee, right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient evidence from VA examinations conducted during a flare-up.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his cervical spine disability and peripheral neuropathy of all extremities, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to April 23, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for GERD, a headache disorder, sinusitis, a right knee disability, and a right ankle disability have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. Service connection is granted for GERD.,Service connection is also granted for a headache disorder. The Board found that there was equipoise in the evidence regarding whether the Veteran had a headache disorder during service and still has one today.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, left shoulder, and left ankle disabilities as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board has not fully considered the Veteran's claims due to incomplete record development and requires additional examinations or opinions for a full decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations, as well as the retrieval of outstanding records. The Board will also consider extraschedular considerations for his right wrist, ankle, and knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives regarding the Veteran's ankle disabilities, specifically for an examination and opinions on occupational impact and flare-ups.