Ankle decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and outstanding VA treatment records. The issues include back disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral hip disability, residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), disability manifested by impaired balance, fatigue, memory loss, bilateral hand disability (claimed as hand tremors), speech disability, and bilateral eye disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right shoulder disability, neck disability, and right ankle disability are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings.,Service connection was denied for the right hip, leg, and groin disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for a left ankle disability and service connection for right knee and low back disabilities due to incomplete VA treatment records. The case will be returned to the Board after obtaining all relevant medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, low back condition, right ankle condition, and right hip condition as secondary to his service-connected right medial meniscus tear due to insufficient opinions regarding aggravation of these conditions by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied an increased rating for right ankle strain, finding that the appellant's range of motion did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5271.,The Board also denied an increased rating for dyshidrotic eczema of the right foot with recurrent ulcerations, as the evidence did not show more than moderate disability.

The Veteran's tension headaches are not rated higher than the current 50 percent since October 25, 2017.,The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent effective October 25, 2017.

The Veteran's hypogeusia (loss of sense of taste) is granted as service-connected.,Bilateral hearing loss and joint pain in the shoulders, wrists, ankles, and elbows are denied as not being related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination reports regarding functional loss caused by repetitive use over time and flare-ups for both right knee patellofemoral syndrome and left ankle synovitis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including providing VCAA notice and considering the claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's right ankle fusion and carpal tunnel syndrome of both wrists. The Veteran is seeking initial compensable ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left and right ankle tendinosis was denied. Separate 10 percent ratings were granted for left and right ankle instability.

The Board has remanded the cases for obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, Parkinson's disease, fungus condition, and arthritis. The VA examiner provided opinions not supported by the record and which lacked adequate supporting rationale.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his prostate cancer and other conditions. The issues include service connection for various disabilities, including prostate cancer, hypertrophy of the breast, high blood pressure, residuals from paralysis of the fourth cranial nerve, HIV, heart disability, sleep disorder, arthritis, and bone and cartilage disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for her right foot disability and service connection for her left ankle disability due to insufficient evidence. She needs additional medical opinions regarding the severity of her right foot disability and whether her current left ankle disability is related to her service.

The Veteran seeks higher ratings for his left knee and right knee disabilities, but the current assigned ratings do not adequately reflect the severity of his symptomatology during flare-up episodes.,A new VA examination is needed to evaluate the severity of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities in accordance with the new applicable rating criteria.

The claims for service connection for right and left hip disorders, as well as for hypertensive cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus type II are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,Service connection is also being remanded for a right knee disorder, a left knee disorder, and a left ankle disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a right foot disability and denied service connection for right ankle, left knee, and acquired psychiatric disabilities. The case is remanded for further development regarding a skin disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and right ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The Veteran contends his current disabilities are related to an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inconsistencies in the evidence and need for additional medical opinions. The issues include Reiter’s syndrome, low back disability, bilateral knee, ankle, and foot disabilities.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is denied as it is not shown to have been aggravated by service.,The Veteran's bilateral foot disability (gout) is denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service.