Ankle decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as bilateral ankle disabilities, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for thoracolumbar spine, left knee, and right ankle disabilities due to incomplete medical opinions and need for additional evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to May 16, 2014, finding that there was no evidence of increased severity in his service-connected conditions by any ascertainable date during the year preceding the receipt of his claim. The effective date remains at the date he filed his claim.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis are rated at 40 percent effective September 1, 2016. The Veteran is granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful course of employment, and thus grants his claim for TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left ankle arthritis, left shoulder disability, and low back disability due to inconsistencies in the medical opinions provided. The Veteran will need further examination and opinion regarding the onset and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle posttraumatic degenerative joint disease/degenerative arthrosis, finding that it is related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a left ankle disability, including Achilles tendonitis, due to potential inconsistencies in the July 2020 VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's history and treatment. The case is being sent back for an additional medical opinion on whether any current left ankle disability was aggravated by Reserve service or running/walking during active duty.

The Veteran's tinnitus, dermatitis of the face, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been granted service connection. Service connection for a left ankle condition has not been established. The initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete VA treatment records and requests for additional information from the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The attention deficit hyperactivity disorder claim is also remanded for a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for a right ankle condition, left shoulder condition, and neck condition due to non-compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is warranted. The case is being remanded for further examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's right knee and right ankle disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each since the period on appeal began. The Board has determined that these ratings are appropriate.,Service connection for sleep apnea, a right shoulder disability, and left knee and left ankle disabilities have not been established.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's right ankle disability and obstructive sleep apnea disability are related to his military service. The claims will be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for right and left ankle strains, finding that the current conditions are not related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for kidney damage, left knee disorder, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right ankle arthritis remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of his disabilities due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been found to be related to his military service, and thus granted.,Bilateral hearing loss was not shown during service or post-service, and is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is withdrawn. The Veteran's right ankle pain claim is granted, but the respiratory disability and left foot condition claims are remanded due to lack of a current diagnosis.