Ankle decisions — 2021

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the Board did not adequately address his work history and employment status, which could affect his eligibility for a TDIU. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete VA treatment records and a need for a new VA examination. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder was granted. Claims for other conditions were denied or remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle degenerative joint disease, finding that the Veteran's statements about an in-service injury and pain since then are credible and consistent with the evidence of record.

The Board has dismissed the claims for a higher evaluation for the residuals of right ankle fracture and for Total Disability Evaluation Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) as the appellant withdrew his appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral eye disability and for ratings in excess of 20 percent for left elbow osteoarthritis and 10 percent for right ankle osteoarthritis, finding that the preponderance of evidence was against his claims.

The Veteran's left ankle disability was previously rated at 10 percent prior to October 3, 2019. Since then, a rating of 20 percent has been granted effective from October 3, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral ankle pain, finding no causal relationship to his military service and concluding there is no diagnosed disability for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a left ankle disability and PTSD due to insufficient opinions regarding secondary service connection and inadequate consideration of the Veteran's lay statements.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's hemorrhoids and left ankle disability. The issues include determining appropriate ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a foot disability and left ankle disability have been denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that led to the current conditions.,For his back pain, the Veteran has not met the criteria for a rating greater than 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and bilateral ankle disabilities due to insufficient etiological opinions in the October 2017 VA examinations. The Veteran is required to provide a clear history of his symptoms' onset, and an orthopedic examination should be scheduled.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to July 31, 2017. From July 31, 2017, his combined disability rating is 100%, but he does not have a single disability rated at least 60% disabling or one disability rated at least 40% disabling and the evidence does not indicate total unemployability due to one disability.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals regarding his right knee and left knee disability ratings, as well as his claim for service connection for a right knee disability. The case is now remanded to obtain a new medical opinion on the issue of service connection for a left ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for adjustment disorder, bilateral hearing loss, right and left ankle strains, and OSA have been granted. The Board found that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examination opinions and additional development is required.

The appeal as to the issue of tuberculosis is dismissed. The claim for service connection for a right knee disability has been reopened, but the preponderance of evidence does not support establishing that any current low back, left ankle, right ankle, or knee disabilities were incurred in or caused by service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, but has found that remand is required to obtain new VA examinations and medical opinions regarding the etiology and current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, but dismissed the claim for jungle rot. The Veteran's right ankle disability is considered secondary to his service-connected right ankle injury.

The Veteran's initial rating for residuals of a gunshot wound to the right ankle is denied, and he is granted an initial 20 percent rating from November 15, 2006 to January 3, 2021. The Veteran's entitlements for DDD of the lumbar spine and cervical spine are remanded.