Ankle decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings must be remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports. The issues are related, so a remand is required for all of them.

The Board has remanded the claims for right ankle sprain and fracture, deviated septum and rhinitis, and right hand arthritis with history of 5th metacarpal fracture due to concerns about the competency of the medical examiner and conflicting medical reports regarding the Veteran's current right-hand disability.

The Board has found that additional evidence is needed to determine the etiology of the veteran's claimed disabilities, and thus remands the cases for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and a left ankle disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service, and the current conditions are not otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to unclear dates of qualifying service and outstanding medical records. The TDIU claim is deferred until the other issues are resolved.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology and a need for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a bilateral foot disability, to include corns on his feet, and for a sinus related disability, to include headaches. The remaining claims of service connection for hypertension, bilateral ankle arthritis, and bilateral knee arthritis have been reopened but denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, metatarsal bone spur on the left foot, and anterior talofibular ligament tear of the right ankle as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip strain, left hip strain, right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The appeals are related to various musculoskeletal conditions, PTSD, and a respiratory disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD has been denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for right ankle wound residuals due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left hip due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including a secondary service connection opinion considering all relevant conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hand numbness, chronic right ankle pain, and chronic right wrist pain due to a duty-to-assist error regarding the specific dates of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) or Inactive Duty for Training (INACDUTRA).

The Board has denied service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, right hip disability (claimed as secondary to right knee), and right ankle disability (claimed as secondary to right knee) due to a lack of evidence showing the conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.,There is no current diagnosis of any of these conditions in the Veteran's medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of back, neck, and right ankle disorders are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The case will be reviewed with the submission of updated medical evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for pes planus, bilateral ankle disability, shin splints, and GERD as there is no current diagnosis of a disability or objective medical evidence indicating the Veteran experiences pain that causes a functional impairment of his earning capacity.

The appeal on the issue of service connection for asthma, claimed as a lung condition secondary to lung infections is dismissed. The appeals for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD, a liver transplant, and a left ankle condition. The cases are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors, his liver transplant cause, and the relationship between his left ankle condition and any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle disability is related to his in-service fall, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient clarification from a VA examiner regarding whether the service-connected left ankle traumatic arthritis caused or aggravated the right ankle and bilateral knee disabilities.