Ankle decisions — 2021

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously-denied claims for gout of various joints, including right ankle, feet, toes, ankles, knees, hands, and left shoulder, is granted. The appeal includes remanded issues related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis, right ankle strain, and left hip disorder due to potential errors in the examination reports. The Veteran's current conditions are being reviewed to determine if they are related to his service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's left ankle condition post-procedure and for further development regarding his employment status.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip, low back, left ankle, right wrist, and throat disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease. The cases are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ankle avascular necrosis and osteochondral necrosis of the medial talar dome with osteoarthritis is granted. The Board found that his in-service symptoms were related to his current conditions.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for service-connected left ankle sprain with degenerative arthritis, right ankle sprain with degenerative arthritis, and right knee patella tendonitis with history of Osgood-Schlatter disease are remanded due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's right ankle degenerative arthritis is granted a 10 percent rating, effective August 1, 2009. The bone spur of the right foot remains noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to inadequate previous examinations. The issues of service connection for various conditions are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations and medical opinions. The Veteran's right ankle/foot injury, genitourinary dysfunction, and facial numbness will need further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the cases of the Veteran's right shoulder, left knee, and left ankle conditions for further development. Specifically, a VA examiner is to review relevant articles and provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to service-connected PTSD or Gulf War environmental hazards.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities have been remanded by the Board due to additional development needed.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and needs further clarification on the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and left ankle disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle, bilateral hip, and low back degenerative arthritis. The conditions are considered secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted service connection, but hypertension and other spine, hip, and ankle disabilities are not. The claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, hip, and ankle disabilities, as well as the rating of left knee disability in excess of 10 percent, and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder disability, right knee disabilities, left knee disability, and ankle tarsal tunnel syndromes. The Board found that the current conditions are not related to in-service injuries or symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of the 2015 right ankle fracture and its relationship to the service-connected disability.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, cervical spine disability, low back disability, left knee disability, and right ankle disability are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has denied service connection for a left ankle disorder and a left foot disorder, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including panic disorder with agoraphobia and major depressive disorder, GERD, bilateral plantar fasciitis, diabetes mellitus, type II, patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative changes in the right knee, residuals of left ankle injury, residuals of right ankle injury, post-operative chronic subacromial impingement with degenerative changes (right rotator cuff tear/impediment), tinnitus, and others, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 28, 2016. From July 28, 2016, the claim is dismissed as moot due to his combined disability rating of 100 percent.