Ankle decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disorder and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, knee, and ankle conditions due to incomplete development of records and insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disability, service connection for a right ankle condition and diabetes mellitus, type II, and service connection for sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions.

The Board denied service connection for right-ankle disorder and increased disability evaluations for thoracolumbar strain disorder.,Right-ankle disorder was not incurred during active service, and arthritis of the right ankle did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year post-service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran served multiple parachute jumps during his military service, which he attributes to his current knee and ankle conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities, as well as his right and left knee disabilities are secondary to his service-connected hallux valgus. The claims for these conditions are being remanded due to a lack of medical opinion regarding their relationship to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to a duty to assist error in the prior decision, which did not obtain all relevant private treatment records and scanned medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for major depressive disorder was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The claim for TDIU was granted due to the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various foot, shoulder, hip, ankle, fatigue, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and psychiatric conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.,There was no medical nexus provided to link any of the Veteran's current diagnoses to his military service.

The Veteran's left ankle disability and plantar fasciitis are rated at 10 percent, with no higher rating due to the severity of his symptoms. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the degree of limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities. The issues include bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral ankle disability, and right leg sciatica.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and further review is needed.

The Veteran's left ankle fracture and foot deformity are being remanded for further review due to the need for additional medical records and an independent examiner's opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle and right knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The RO is instructed to obtain additional VA opinions addressing the Veteran's reported in-service injuries and provide a memorandum detailing his periods of active military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for the service-connected left ankle disability and surgical scarring have been denied. The Board found that the left ankle disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating, while the left ankle surgical scarring was also denied as it did not meet the required compensable criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The Veteran's left ankle disability is claimed as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and hip conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all pending claims.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for the Veteran's left ankle disability, right ear hearing loss, and Diabetes Mellitus type II.