Ankle decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle, right knee, and right thumb conditions due to concerns about the adequacy of the previous VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right ear disability and a right ankle disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is requested to provide private treatment records and undergo VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation, as his education, training, and experience allow for sedentary employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability caused or aggravated circulation issues that prevented proper circulation to his right foot, which in turn contributed to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected status post fractured right ankle with residuals is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher evaluation is not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, liver disease (to include hepatitis B), gastrointestinal disorder (to include IBS and/or Crohn's disease), low back disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, kidney disease, heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for these conditions must be remanded to obtain VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a left ankle condition, cervical spine DJD (neck condition), and an increase rating for right ankle disability due to new evidence received since the March 2016 rating decision.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted by the agency of original jurisdiction. The claims for other conditions have been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including leukemia, left ankle and knee conditions, tinnitus, skull scars, and lower leg issues, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the claims for gastrointestinal disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, and multiple musculoskeletal disorders due to lack of complete development. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of various knee and ankle disabilities, tinnitus, and right little finger arthritis have been denied as the earliest possible effective date is April 9, 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for dizziness, right ankle condition, left knee condition, lumbar spine condition, and prostate condition due to duty-to-assist errors.

The appeal is dismissed for the increased rating claims of right knee osteoarthritis, migraine headaches, status post fracture of the right ankle, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine osteoarthritis, right foot radiculopathy, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The appeals are remanded for further action on the remaining issues.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of hernia, right shin splint/stress fracture with ankle impairment, left shin splint/stress fracture with ankle impairment, and migraines have been granted. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claims for right shoulder injury and sleep disturbances due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the need for updated VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus and osteoarthritis of the ankles result in a combined rating of 70 percent. The Board finds that these conditions do not prevent him from engaging in sedentary work, thus denying his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral ankle conditions due to incomplete development. The issues are whether he is entitled to separate ratings for left and right ankle instability, as well as increased ratings for his service-connected left and right ankle strain with degenerative joint disease.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's disabilities, including ratings for posttraumatic headaches, right shoulder strain, and left ankle fracture with atrophy. The appeals are now pending again due to a missing copy of the Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board denied service connection for lower back, right knee (including degenerative arthritis), left knee, neck, right shoulder, and left ankle disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was not granted as the VA medical opinions found no link between current disabilities and in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's active duty infantry service is noted in his separation report.