Ankle decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for painful joints and bilateral eye disabilities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.,Specifically, the VA examiner determined that the Veteran’s current joint pain and eye disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to pending VA examinations for the service-connected ankle disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disorder and remanded the issues of rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine; rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy; and entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, low back, and lung disorders are not related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral elbow disability, right ankle disability, and bilateral shoulder disability. The Veteran's claims for these conditions were not supported by evidence showing they occurred during his period of active service.,Service connection was also denied for a neck disability and bilateral knee disabilities (including residuals of left and right meniscal tears). These claims were based on the absence of medical documentation linking current disabilities to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for the following: obtaining VA treatment records from January 2020 to present, scheduling a VA examination to assess his right ankle disability, and adjudicating his secondary service connection claim.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability and bilateral foot disability (claimed as fallen arches/pes planus) due to the lack of evidence showing a current disability related to service, including any chronicity or aggravation during service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, but has remanded them for further development and examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disorder, left ankle disorder, neck disorder, right hand disorder, and residuals of tailbone injury due to new and material evidence. The claims are now considered on their merits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA examination and insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional development of records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right leg gunshot wound, contributed to his death from heart failure. The decision grants service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder is not related to service and denied his claim. The right elbow pronation, left ankle sprain, right elbow calcific tendinosis, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee patellar bone spur claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since April 25, 2008.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's right leg, left leg, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities. The claims for service connection are also being remanded.

The Veteran's left ankle sprain, right knee strain, and lumbar strain are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board denied increased ratings for all three conditions as the evidence did not support a finding of marked limitation of motion or other disabling symptoms warranting higher ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from January 6, 2014 through March 14, 2020. Effective January 6, 2014, the Veteran was granted TDIU.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU from January 15, 2014 to July 11, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities that rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and remanded the issues of bilateral ankle vein insufficiency disorder, bilateral calf vein insufficiency disorder, and a back disorder due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has dismissed the issue of whether new and material evidence was received to reopen a claim for service connection for sleep apnea. The claims for shin splints, right ankle, left ankle, right wrist, left wrist, right shoulder, and low back disabilities have been reopened due to receipt of new and material evidence.