Ankle decisions — 2021

The Board has denied service connection for right and left shoulder disorders, a right hip disorder, a left knee disorder, and a right ankle disorder as these conditions are not shown to be related to service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left ankle disability. The Veteran is asked to provide a new medical opinion that considers his complete history and reports of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for right hip arthritis, right knee arthritis, right ankle arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, right elbow arthritis, and right wrist arthritis. The reasons include the need to obtain VA treatment records and VRE records, as well as a new VA examination to assess current right extremity joint conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from being able to work in an office setting.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of various disabilities, including right and left ankle bursitis, OCD with major depressive disorder, anemia, and restless leg syndrome, were remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on his left ankle disability, service connection for right and left leg disabilities, and acquired psychiatric disorder was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for the left ankle sprain or service connection for the right and left leg disabilities. The back and hip conditions were remanded due to insufficient information on their relationship with service. The Veteran's right and left hand disabilities were also remanded as they may be related to congenital defects, but further clarification is needed.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle and right knee disabilities due to inadequate examinations, including a failure to provide an adequate VA examination in compliance with Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) and Correia v. McDonald (2016). The claims for increased ratings are remanded as well as the extraschedular rating claim.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left ankle disability was denied. The Board also granted the Veteran a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, including back and right ankle conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, left ankle disability, and right heel disability due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the September 2017 VA examination report. The matter will be returned for a new examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, right shoulder, right wrist, and right ankle disabilities due to conflicting evidence regarding when and how these conditions were caused or aggravated. The VA is instructed to obtain additional medical records and provide supplemental opinions on whether the Veteran’s current disabilities are secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.,The Board has also remanded the claim for compensation for bladder cancer pursuant to 38 U.S.C. §1151 due to a lack of rationale regarding whether a nerve cluster was severed during surgery and if VA's care caused additional disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities due to the complexity of his medical history and the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a tremor disorder and dry mouth, as well as an increased rating for right fibula fracture with traumatic arthritis, right ankle with scar.,No effective date is assigned in this decision.

The Board restored the Veteran's 100% rating for prostate cancer effective March 1, 2015. The earlier effective date of March 1, 2015 is granted for SMC at the housebound rate and TDIU from February 6, 2008 to September 30, 2009.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, bilateral pes planus, and low back disability due to additional development being required.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right knee disorders, as well as his left foot disorder and right foot or ankle disorder. The case is remanded to provide another opportunity for a VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip, right hip, and right ankle disabilities as secondary to his service-connected conditions. The evidence does not support a finding that these disabilities are directly related to service or any other service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, but denied service connection for other conditions including a duodenal ulcer, lumbar spine disability, neuropathy of the lower legs, cervical spine disability, neuropathy of the upper arm, right ankle disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and bilateral shin splints.

The Board has remanded the cases of the Veteran's low back and left ankle disorders due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The VA is instructed to obtain private treatment records from Phoenix Physical Therapy and SSA records for further evaluation.