Ankle decisions — 2021

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine strain with intervertebral disc disease (IVDS), right knee disability, left knee disability, and left ankle disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has denied service connection for a right ankle disability and granted service connection for a left ankle disability. The Veteran's current left ankle condition is related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral foot disorders, finding that the appellant's preexisting conditions were aggravated by his military service.

The Board has dismissed the TDIU claim due to improper jurisdiction and has remanded the right knee disorder service connection issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee disability and its relationship to his service-connected right ankle DJD.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, effective March 19, 2021.,An earlier effective date for service connection of the left ankle disability cannot be granted.

The Veteran is rendered unable to maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of service-connected disabilities from April 12, 2012 to June 28, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her bipolar disorder and left ankle condition, prevented her from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment from September 22, 2015 to January 16, 2019. Since then, the combined disability rating for her remaining conditions does not render her unemployable.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the right ankle sprain is related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new examination is required.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his sleep apnea. The examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion addressing these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination regarding left ankle instability and limitation of motion. The Veteran's disability is rated together with a calcaneal spur, and further evaluation may be warranted for separate ratings.

The Board denied service connection for both the right ankle disorder and the right-side pain disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to an in-service injury or event.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to new evidence and symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient initial adjudication of certain issues and for an addendum opinion on his TBI residuals.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability and sleep apnea appeals have been dismissed.,Service connection for acid reflux and constipation to include on a secondary basis has also been dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right knee arthritis, left ankle sprain, and right ankle sprain due to a lack of proper evaluation criteria in prior examinations.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for a cervical spine disorder and residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) to include a headache disorder, as well as the SMC and SMP claims. The issues are being remanded due to conflicting opinions regarding whether the Veteran's falls were caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for his right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability, including secondary to his service-connected left ankle disease or injury. The Board found that there was no current evidence of a right ankle disability and that it did not manifest during the appeal period.