Ankle decisions — 2021

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death and were not related to service. The Board also found that he was not entitled to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Board has remanded five issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hip, right knee, left ankle disabilities and a mallet left little finger disability. The remand includes obtaining updated examinations of the Veteran's service-connected mallet left little finger disability, peripheral nerves examination, and addendum opinions regarding his service connection claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is not entitled to a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for her left 5th metatarsal fracture, service connection for her left ankle disability, and TDIU due to her service-connected disabilities. The appeals are remanded because the evidence suggests that the Veteran's current conditions may have worsened.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed vaginal and uterine conditions, bilateral foot conditions, and bilateral ankle conditions. The VA is required to provide new examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and a need for an addendum opinion from a clinician with experience in vascular and pulmonary disease.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including examinations and consideration of new evidence. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include L4-L5 space narrowing degenerative arthritis, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, traumatic arthritis of the right shoulder, left knee disability, and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal in its entirety prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board has granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, finding that they render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, ankle, and shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is not presumed to have a chronic condition in service or within presumptive periods.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and various cold injury residuals are denied. The claim for chronic obstructive airway disease is also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral knee replacements and right ankle fracture with posttraumatic arthritis are rated at 60 percent each, granting the requested increased ratings.

The Board has remanded the cases of right shoulder arthritis, right ankle condition, and left ankle condition for further development. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed due to lack of current diagnoses in some instances.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,Right ear hearing loss is granted based on aggravation during service.,Left ear hearing loss is granted as a result of active service exposure.,Ocular auras are granted as secondary to traumatic brain injury (TBI).,A right ankle deltoid ligament sprain is granted as related to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU rating, and there is no evidence to support an extraschedular TDIU rating due to her ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA vocational rehabilitation records and treatment records from Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital. The Veteran also needs an addendum opinion regarding his bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral ankle disability, as there are conflicting medical opinions and insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left ankle disability, finding no evidence that her current condition is related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's right knee disability is being reviewed due to a recent injury, but no relevant records are in the file as of now.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle, knee, and low back conditions due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The claims are being returned for further development.