Ankle decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to inadequate examinations in prior decisions.

New and relevant evidence has been received for the service connection claims of an acquired psychiatric disorder, a skin disorder, a thoracolumbar spine disorder, a left ankle disorder, and anal cancer. These claims are being readjudicated.,Service connection is granted for a chronic thoracolumbar spine disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various lower extremity and back conditions as secondary to a service-connected left ankle disability due to inadequate medical opinions addressing the issue of secondary aggravation.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and seeking additional medical opinions to address the etiology of various conditions. The claims include service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ankle disabilities, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder strain is granted. The initial rating for his TBI with dizziness and unspecified depressive disorder remains at 40 percent, but the initial rating for headaches is increased to 50 percent. His ratings for bilateral knee ITB syndrome remain denied.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, which includes a strain and fracture, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board denied an evaluation higher than this due to the lack of functional limitation caused by pain.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for right and left ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the relationship between current diagnoses and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to assess the Veteran's functional impairment from his service-connected disabilities, as he failed to report to previous examinations. The TDIU claim is being returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, while claims for bilateral hearing loss, skeletal arthritis, a skin condition, and the thoracolumbar spine condition are denied. The Veteran's left ankle, left knee, and right knee conditions have been rated as requested.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the severity of her service-connected migraines and the nature and etiology of her bilateral ankle strain and feet disorders, including plantar fasciitis and pes planus. The Veteran will also be asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain private treatment records related to her migraine condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right and left ankle disabilities due to incomplete records, lack of VA examinations, and potential need for SSA disability benefits records. The Veteran will be provided with an opportunity to respond to these requests.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis and instability. The other claims have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examination opinions and failure to address the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missed VA examinations and lack of notice regarding available examination locations. The issues include evaluations for left knee sprain, chondromalacia, and subluxation; evaluation for left ankle disability; and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence not being considered 'pertinent' as defined by VA regulations. The Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic residuals from a left lower extremity insect bite and a right ankle disorder are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a respiratory disorder, headaches, depression and anxiety, bilateral foot disability, lower back condition, and bilateral ankle disability due to inadequacies in the VA examination reports.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate statement of reasons or bases for denying TDIU. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes cavus, RSD of the right foot and ankle, and RSD of the left foot and ankle, may preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and his service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is characterized by moderate limitation of motion during the appeal period, and he has had a 10 percent rating for the entire appeals period. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected chronic left ankle strain.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, but he contends for a higher rating. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating under either old or new criteria.,Service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are denied as there is no in-service event, injury, or disease that could be linked to these conditions.