Ankle decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin disabilities of the right and left ankles were denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service incurrence.,Service connection was also denied for a rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of prostate cancer from June 1, 2013, to December 17, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right ankle disability. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to determine if his current condition is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of March 30, 2017 for a 50% rating for PTSD is denied as it is not factually ascertainable that the Veteran's PTSD increased in severity warranting such a rating within one year prior to his March 30, 2017 claim.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for left ankle collateral ligament sprain with calcaneal spurs, left knee strain with shin splint, and right knee strain with shin splint were denied. Separate noncompensable ratings were granted for the Veteran's right shin splint and left shin splint as of February 7, 2021.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient in-service medical records. The Veteran needs to provide information about his injuries and treatment during service, and VA will attempt to obtain any missing records.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and readjudicating the service connection, rating, and TDIU issues.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus and right ankle sprain rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from January 20, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU based on the schedular criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, which was aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability. The other issues of service connection have been remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in October 2020 are inadequate for adjudication purposes and remanded the case to obtain new VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral ankle disabilities and bilateral knee disabilities, which he contends were incurred during active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted service connection for it. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, left ankle disability, asthma, and hypertension are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to May 16, 2014 based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment throughout the appeal period, and thus denied his claim for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left ankle disability, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder due to incomplete development in previous examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left achilles tendonitis was denied. The Board found that the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating based on marked limitation of motion. However, the Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective September 24, 2012, as he met the schedular criteria with his combined service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for a joint pain disability other than of the thoracolumbar spine, bilateral knees, or right hand is remanded due to inadequate examination and compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's initial claims for increased ratings for his right knee and ankle disabilities have been denied. The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) has remanded the TDIU claim, which is pending on remand.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous instructions and a need for a retrospective medical opinion regarding the Veteran's work capacity prior to July 28, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for clarification on the onset of the Veteran's right ankle disability, as well as whether it is related to service-connected bilateral knee arthritis.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left hip disability, left ankle disability, and gout.