Ankle decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a change in personnel and requests for additional information from an examiner.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has been granted an initial rating of 20 percent, effective March 25, 2022. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal of the rating assigned for his service-connected right ankle disability is being remanded to ensure due process as additional evidence has been developed.,The Veteran's appeal of the rating assigned for his service-connected left knee disability is also being remanded to ensure due process as additional evidence has been developed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to multiple issues remaining on appeal. The AOJ must review all new evidence and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The claims will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected bilateral ankle and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including range of motion assessments and a comprehensive assessment of functional limitations.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a left ankle disorder, bilateral heel spurs, jaw injury, and cervical spine disorder due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Board denied reopening of the previously denied claims for right and left ankle conditions due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Board also denied reopening of the previously denied claim for obstructive sleep apnea as there was no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is granted service connection. The left ankle osteoarthritis with anterior and lateral instability is granted a 20% rating effective December 12, 2017.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic right ankle disability, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic right ankle disability during or within one year after the July 1993 period of INACDUTRA. The weight of the evidence does not support a finding that the current right ankle disability was caused by the July 1993 injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for insomnia associated with his left inguinal hernia was granted, and the effective date is set at April 9, 2007.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle disability as secondary to his service-connected left hip impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his depressive disorder and right ankle strain, render him unemployable. The Board finds that the criteria for a Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU) have been met.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her left ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's talar osteochondritis of the left ankle was initially rated at 10 percent prior to January 11, 2022 and granted a 20 percent rating effective since that date. The issue of entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is raised by the record.,The Veteran's left patellofemoral pain syndrome was remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left leg varicose veins and his service. The examiner needs to consider the Veteran's reported in-service symptoms and their continuity post-service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, including a right ankle disorder, neck disorder, back disorder, shoulder disorders, knee disorders, and bilateral foot disorder, have been denied. The Board found no current disability of the claimed right ankle disorder.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed right leg Achilles rupture and left leg (ankle/ Achilles) disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease. The Board also found that the current disabilities were not related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to the need to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC) and provide the Veteran with an opportunity to perfect his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the service connection for right and left ankle disorders, including whether they are related to bilateral knee strains.