Ankle decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to issues with scheduling VA examinations at his correctional facility. The appeals are related and must be addressed together.

The Board has remanded four issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities: PTSD, low back strain with degenerative changes, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and recurrent right ankle sprain. The remand requires VA to obtain treatment records from the Taylor Street Vet Center in Washington, D.C., and to schedule the Veteran for examinations by appropriate clinicians to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right ankle, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination in July 2016. The Veteran testified that he self-treated his conditions after active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected right ankle sprain and left knee strain and instability is remanded due to inconsistencies in the May 2021 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and insufficient rationale in the previous decision.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for left ankle disability, including degenerative joint disease (DJD), was granted. Service connection is also granted for this condition. The appeals for back and neck injuries were withdrawn by the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left plantar fasciitis, as well as a new ankle disability, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of right ankle injury, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of right ankle injury, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his in-service injuries and is more likely due to a 2015 injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of right ankle injury, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his in-service injuries. The Board concluded that the current arthritis is not related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances for a DJO left knee brace and an Arizona AFO right foot boot, finding insufficient evidence of wear or tear to his clothing.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left ankle disability, back disability, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, and left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted. The rating assigned is 60 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted for a left knee condition, right knee condition, degenerative changes in the thoracolumbar spine, and left shoulder condition.,Service connection is also denied for a right little toe condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for clarification on whether the Veteran's hypothyroidism manifested as myxedema during the appeal period, specifically since February 2014.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left chronic achilles tendonitis and left ankle nerve entrapment were denied as there is no legal basis to assign a schedular rating in excess of the currently assigned 20 percent ratings.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for residuals of bilateral ankle cellulitis was granted, with a rating of 20 percent effective September 10, 2018. The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) was denied.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's knee, back, ankle sprain, cluster headaches, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities. The examinations will help determine if the Veteran's service-connected conditions have worsened since his last evaluations.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions are not adequate, necessitating further clarification of the medical evidence regarding the etiology and pathophysiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's initial 60 percent disability rating for service-connected gout is granted, and a separate 10 percent rating for each knee due to shin splints is also granted. The appeal regarding tinnitus, increased ratings for the bilateral foot disability, TDIU, and service connection for shin splints is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions due to incomplete development. The Veteran's records, including imaging studies and community care records, need to be associated with the file.