Ankle decisions — 2022

The Veteran's right ankle disability, including a history of surgery, is rated at 20 percent since July 24, 2018.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. High cholesterol and psychiatric disorders are denied. The remaining claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate pre-decisional duty to assist errors, specifically failure to obtain medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left ankle disability as there is no current evidence showing a left ankle disability during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's service records show multiple complaints and treatment related to his hands, feet, ankles, upper extremities, lower extremities, and back during service. The Veteran contends that these conditions had their onset or are otherwise related to service. However, the VA examinations have not provided a clear opinion on whether any of these conditions were present in service or are otherwise related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left ankle, left shoulder, and right knee conditions due to incomplete compliance with prior directives. The VA clinician must provide a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's right eye disability is granted as the result of exposure to environmental hazards during his service in the Gulf War. The left ankle scar and left ear hearing loss are denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities, as well as his right and left hip disabilities, did not have onset in service or within one year of discharge. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.

The Veteran's left ankle fracture residuals are remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability. Additionally, service connection for residuals of a right rib fracture is also remanded due to lack of Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his service-connected left knee, right knee, and left ankle disabilities, as well as the issue of entitlement to TDIU, have been dismissed due to a withdrawal of appeal in an August 2022 written statement.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his in-service sprains and that there is no chronic disease present.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for her claimed ankle and foot disabilities, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between her current conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and the cases are being remanded to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's chronic left ankle condition, effective November 11, 2008. The appeal is dismissed as there are no remaining issues to be decided.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right ankle disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are found to be related to service, granting service connection.,Service connection is granted for the right knee disorder and right ankle disorder, but a rating greater than 20 percent for the left shoulder disorder remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic insomnia and lymphedema affecting both lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to March 15, 2017. Effective from that date, the Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for right ankle and foot disabilities, as well as the cause of death and DIC issues due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection. Additional development is needed including verification of the Veteran's service aboard the U.S.S. Pine Island and an opinion on radiation exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various conditions, including a ganglion cyst of the right foot and right ankle arthritis. The issues are currently pending further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his conditions did not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.