Ankle decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected right ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for updated medical records and a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right ankle disability and his service-connected conditions, as well as continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's service-connected knee and ankle disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment starting in May 2009, leading to a TDIU effective date of May 31, 2009.

The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the claims at this time.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not granted.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination. The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD was withdrawn, while the remaining claims are being reviewed again due to lack of recent VA treatment records and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and degenerative arthritis of the right ankle, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of July 15, 2010. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has denied service connection for left ankle and left knee disabilities, as well as cervical spine disability. The claims of urinary incontinence and psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depressive disorder) are secondary to a lumbar spine disability.,Service connection is also denied for the Veteran's lumbar disc herniation at L4-L5 S/P laminectomy; spondylosis and right sided radiculopathy, as well as his cervical spine disability. The Board has remanded these claims for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left ear hearing loss, right and left ankle disabilities, lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity sciatica, and left lower extremity sciatica, must be remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of recent VA examination and for consideration of new rating criteria. The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 20%.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left ankle disability and its relation to service.

The Veteran's right ankle strain is rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,Bilateral hearing loss has not been established as a disability for VA purposes.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and OSA have not been granted.,Service connection for headaches has not been granted.,The Veteran's left ankle strain is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal disorders, including right shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, ankle, and foot conditions. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a causal link to service.

Your service-connected conditions provide a greater benefit than the nonservice-connected pension benefits you requested. Therefore, your claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle residuals from an in-service softball injury and bilateral pes planus (flat feet) with orthotics, finding the evidence to be at least evenly balanced.

Service connection is granted for asthma and rhinitis, with a presumption of exposure to particulate matter in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.,The Veteran's vertigo and dizziness are remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a VA medical opinion to address whether her current right ankle disability and scar are related to service, as well as any aggravation of these conditions by other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral ankle disability and denied service connection for difficulty swallowing, to include as secondary to laryngeal condition.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral shin splints, refractive disorder (eye condition), and obesity have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received.,The Veteran's claim for left ankle disability was granted based on the submission of new and material evidence. The right ankle condition remains pending due to remand.