Ankle decisions — 2021

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ankle tendonitis and strain, finding that there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sinusitis, bilateral knee disabilities, and right ankle disability due to insufficient reasons and bases. The claim for eye disabilities is also remanded with specific inquiries regarding etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient examination reports and conflicting medical opinions. The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent, but his right and left ankle disabilities are not service-connected.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including ratings for his right inguinal hernia repair and ankle strain. The Veteran also requested a TDIU rating due to his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeal seeking to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal seeking entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability is dismissed.,Entitlement to a rating in excess of 80 percent for grand mal seizure disorder is denied.,Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a left (minor) shoulder strain, impingement syndrome and labral tear with superior labral anterior-posterior lesion is denied.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, acne with residual scarring, sleep apnea, tension headaches, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, left knee degenerative joint disease, right shoulder tendinitis, lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis, chronic right ankle strain, bilateral pes planus, right great toe injury, hypertension, left and right knee instability, and traumatic brain injury, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment since June 11, 2012.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are granted as service connection due to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is remanded for further review.,The Veteran's sleep disorder claim is denied.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for left ankle arthritis is granted, as the evidence shows a current disability (left ankle arthritis) and a link between that disability and his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to produce unemployability prior to October 7, 2020. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of TDIU prior to this date and grants the claim.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at a 20 percent rating as of February 9, 2015. The Veteran's left knee and leg disability is granted an initial rating of 20 percent.

The Board denied service connection for chest bursitis, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, hemorrhoids, gastritis, left hip bursitis, and foot fungus. The evidence did not establish a current disability for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, but his right ankle disability does not warrant an extraschedular rating. The claims for sleep apnea and entitlement to an extraschedular TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right knee disability, low back disability, and right ankle disability due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are now pending before VA for further review.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection. The case is REMANDED for further action.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder, neck disorder, and right ankle disorder. The Veteran's current conditions were not related to his military service.,Service connection for PTSD was also denied as the claimed stressors could not be verified.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right foot disability and TDIU prior to July 29, 2016. The Veteran did not have a current right foot disability beyond those already service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination for the right ankle disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an alleged inadequate VA examination for a left ankle disability. A new examination is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, right ankle disability, neck disability, and GERD are not service-connected. The case is being remanded for further development.