Ankle decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left foot disability is secondary to his service-connected right foot and ankle disability.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for his service-connected disabilities from October 31, 2016 to February 28, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine osteoarthritis was granted, with a disability rating of 30 percent.,Service connection claims for bilateral wrist condition, bilateral hip condition, and bilateral ankle condition were denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of varicose veins of the right lower extremity was dismissed. For his left ankle sprain, a rating in excess of 10 percent is granted as of January 17, 2018. Service connection for left shoulder strain is also granted.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for a RIGHT shoulder disorder, to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome of the wrists; service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability; an initial rating greater than 10 percent for a LEFT ankle disability; and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for carpal tunnel syndrome of both wrists. The remand is necessary to obtain additional evidence, including VA treatment records and medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and total disability due to individual unemployability. The remaining claims, including those related to bilateral hearing loss, pes planus, cervical spine disability, petit mal seizures, TBI, right ankle and knee disabilities, OSA, and an acquired psychiatric disability, are remanded as additional medical examinations or opinions are needed.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and adjudication, including service connection claims for various conditions. The Veteran's appeal is currently in the process of being addressed.

The Board has granted a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities have been rated at the maximum available rating of 20 percent under the old version of DC 5271. The Board finds that there is no evidence to support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The issues include increased rating for left ankle disability, service connection for right knee and low back disabilities, and TDIU.

The Board has dismissed the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disorder. The left ankle disorder issue is remanded due to lack of evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination of the Veteran's left ankle disability and a need for updated treatment records.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right ankle sprain and also denied entitlement to TDIU.

The Board granted increased ratings for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, as well as his left ankle and right ankle disabilities, while denying an increased rating for his left wrist disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board will need to gather more information about the nature and onset of his claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for polymyositis, sleep apnea, type II diabetes mellitus, right and left ankle disabilities, as well as higher initial ratings for radiculopathy of the left sciatic nerve, left femoral nerve, and degenerative changes in both knees.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and a failure to obtain all relevant records. The Veteran is requested to provide information about any non-VA healthcare providers who have treated him for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for multiple disorders, including bilateral knee, hip, and ankle conditions, a vein disorder, foot and skin disorders, as well as remanded the issues of sleep apnea and TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including right and left shoulder, elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, sleep apnea, ankle, cervical spine, upper extremity radiculopathy, and lumbar strain.

The Board denied service connection for right and left ankle arthritis, finding that the evidence did not establish a link to service or show onset within one year of service.,The Board also denied service connection for low back disorder, finding that there was no evidence showing onset during service or within one year post-service.