Ankle decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that substantial compliance with its prior remand directives to obtain the Veteran's outstanding VA and private treatment records, schedule a VA examination for his bilateral leg disabilities, schedule a VA examination for his bilateral ankle disabilities, and schedule a VA examination for his bilateral pes planus was not achieved. As such, the claims are being remanded once again.

The Board has denied service connection for chest pain, right ankle disability, bilateral wrist disabilities, prostate cancer, and penis and groin area pain. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and right ankle disabilities, as well as his TDIU claim due to service-connected disabilities. The VA examinations conducted in November 2021 did not provide sufficient information regarding the Veteran's flare-ups, which is required by Sharp v. Shulkin (29 Vet. App. 26).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to Gulf War illness for additional examinations and opinions regarding his claimed conditions, including genetic autoimmune disorders, joint pain, uveitis, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities have been granted initial ratings of 20 percent each.,No higher rating is warranted for the service-connected ankle conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities, specifically right and left ankle sprain with degenerative joint disease, have been granted increased ratings. Additionally, a temporary total rating for convalescence after left ankle stabilization surgery from March 28, 2014 to June 2, 2014 has been granted, along with an effective date of March 28, 2014 for the Veteran's left ankle scar.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to a compensable rating for right ankle disability, service connection for left ankle disability, low back disability, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran will need to provide medical records and undergo VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations obtained upon remand were inadequate and requires further examination to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is service-connected, whether it is aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, and how his back and right ankle disabilities impact his daily functioning.

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability as secondary to the left ankle disability. The decision is based on credible testimony from the Veteran regarding his in-service experiences.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left knee patellofemoral syndrome, left ankle sprain, low back condition, throat condition (claimed as strep throat), and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and remanded the issues of service connection for insomnia, bilateral hip disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left ankle disability and his service-connected left knee and/or left foot disabilities. The claim will be returned for a new examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his service. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions obtained are inadequate for addressing the Veteran's right knee and ankle conditions. The Veteran is therefore required to undergo additional examinations to determine the current severity of his knee disabilities, as well as a new opinion regarding whether his bilateral ankle conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records, including those from private providers. The VA will obtain these records and then readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities have been granted service connection. The left knee disability and allergic rhinitis are pending issues.,An effective date earlier than June 17, 2016 for the award of right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy is denied. A timely notice of disagreement was not filed with respect to the issue of an earlier effective date for a cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his service-connected right ankle and left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating in any of these cases.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not combine to 70 percent or more, so he does not qualify for a TDIU under the percentage requirements. The Board finds that there is a reasonable possibility of unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities and remands the issue to the Director of Compensation Service for an opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate VA examinations in previous decisions. The issues include service connection for left ankle sprain, left flat foot (pes planus), and increased ratings for left and right knee disorders.