Ankle decisions — 2022

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for sarcoidosis, rheumatoid arthritis, right knee disability, left knee disability, and other conditions. The appeals are now remanded to determine whether service connection can be established.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain is rated at 20 percent, effective August 11, 2014. His right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each granted initial 20 percent ratings, effective August 11, 2014 and April 29, 2019 respectively. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective November 15, 2012. His right foot fibromatosis and left foot fibromatosis are granted service connection. His bilateral hip strains are secondary to his knee and ankle disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, finding that there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and other conditions due to a lack of current diagnosis meeting DSM-5 criteria. The Veteran's claims were remanded multiple times but no new evidence was provided.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of this decision. Additionally, he is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability and remanded the TDIU claim. The decision on service connection is in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to outstanding records and need for new VA opinions.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, and right arm disabilities due to lack of VA examiner opinions on their etiology. The Veteran's lay statements regarding symptoms during and since service are considered in formulating these opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, shoulder, and arm conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining missing VA treatment records and providing etiology opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability, a bilateral ankle disability, and bilateral eye cataracts. The Veteran's disabilities are related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inconsistencies in the opinions provided by a nurse practitioner regarding the Veteran's flare-ups and their impact on disability ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left shoulder, right knee, and right ankle disabilities due to new evidence identified by the Veteran. The VA is required to obtain authorization and request private treatment records from relevant facilities and schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for various joint disorders and a traumatic brain injury in July 2008. The Veteran's claims were reopened, but new evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen any of the claims.,Service connection was not established for any of the claimed conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further medical evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete VA examinations and a need to consider whether range of motion results from prior examinations would have been reduced if tested in both active and passive motion and in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to the Veteran's right foot, left foot, right hip, left ankle, right ankle, right thigh, toes of the right foot, toes of the left foot, and left shoulder disabilities. The issues are still in appellate status as service connection has not been granted for all conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for psychiatric disability, right shoulder disability, right hip disability, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disorder, finding that the Veteran had continuous symptoms since service and attributing them to a military injury. However, it denied service connection for a right elbow disorder due to lack of current disability.,Service connection was established for a right ankle disorder based on continuity of symptomatology from service.

The Board denied the Appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that his character of discharge was dishonorable and thus barred him from VA benefits.

The Veteran's bilateral hip strain, left ankle degenerative arthritis and strain, and right ankle strain have been granted service connection.,Bell's palsy has not met the criteria for an initial rating higher than 10 percent.