Ankle decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the SMC claim due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's employment status and additional VA and private treatment records are needed. The appeal is now in remand status.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability resulted in a temporary total evaluation from August 11, 2016 to March 1, 2017.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted based on the Veteran's reported noise exposure during service.

The Board has withdrawn the claims of service connection for urticaria and angioedema. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder/anxiety/PTSD), TBI (head injury), right ankle disorder, erectile dysfunction (ED), chronic pain syndrome, hypertension, digestive disorder, and sleep disorder have been remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for various disabilities, including elbow, cervical spine, thoracic spine, wrist, hip, knee, bronchitis, and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and a right ankle disability due to new evidence received since the last final denial. The claim is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for a higher rating for left ankle sprain residuals and SMC based on anatomical loss before the Board could make a decision.

Your appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to proceed with your claims as they are no longer valid.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and a left knee disability, to include as secondary to a right ankle disability due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple disabilities have been remanded due to the lack of a Statement of the Case addressing these issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right ankle, left knee, flat feet, thoracolumbar strain (back condition), and sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of his right ankle disability and bilateral knee arthritis are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The claim for residuals of a nasal injury, status post-nasal surgery is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been dismissed due to his failure to submit an updated VA Form 21-8940 within one year of the VA's July 2020 request, which was sent to his current address of record.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left ankle arthritis may be related to his service-connected disabilities, but needs further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for chronic sinusitis, asthma, and dermatitis. The appeal concerning pseudofolliculitis barbae has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claim. Other issues remain pending.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including skin condition, lumbar spine disability, wrist and thumb disabilities, foot disabilities, ankle disabilities, and knee disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to obtain new medical opinions regarding the nature of the Veteran's treatment for his skin condition, etiology of his back and bilateral hand conditions, etiology of his foot and ankle conditions, and etiology of his bilateral knee conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA regulations. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee, left ankle, and low back conditions are remanded due to lack of medical evidence.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, characterized by ankylosis with dorsiflexion fixed between 0 and 10 degrees, is now rated at 30 percent effective from November 20, 2019.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several conditions have been dismissed.,The claims for service connection for right knee arthritis and hearing loss of the left ear have been reopened.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his service, and whether any current symptoms are linked to in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to the Veteran's passing in July 2020. The claims of service connection for a right hand disability, back disability, and ankle disability are currently pending.