Ankle decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD to include alcohol abuse has precluded him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment since April 2016, and he is now granted a TDIU rating effective February 7, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions and new evidence. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including OSA, lumbar spine disability, ankle disabilities, shin splints, and lung/respiratory conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a retrospective opinion regarding the severity and frequency of flare-ups in the Veteran's left ankle disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ankle sprain, right ankle sprain, and hypothyroidism were denied. The Veteran was granted a 10% rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes planus but denied higher ratings for other conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, right foot, left ankle, and left foot disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, left knee, and heart disabilities must be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA needs to provide additional opinions addressing the onset of these conditions during service or their relationship to service.

The Board has determined that additional evidence has been added to the record and must be considered before a final decision can be made on the claims for service connection for various disabilities. The appeal is being remanded to allow for this review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and right ankle disability, have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation throughout the appeal period. The Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left ankle bimalleolar fracture residuals with degenerative osteoarthritis is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further examination.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's right ankle disability, which is manifested by marked limited motion of the ankle. The maximum allowable rating under DC 5271 is 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic right ankle sprain, finding that the Veteran's current condition is due to an in-service injury.

The Board has granted initial evaluations of 20 percent for service-connected right and left ankle strain residuals prior to July 10, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected osteoarthritis of the right ankle is remanded due to inadequate examination reports and need for clarification.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ankle sprain and instability due to a lack of recent VA treatment records, an updated VA Form 21-8940, and a VA examination. The claims are also remanded as the criteria for rating musculoskeletal disabilities were amended effective February 7, 2021.

The Board has remanded the claim for a left ankle disability due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current complaints constitute a compensable disability and if so, whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied.,Service connection has been granted for the Veteran's bilateral ankle condition as secondary to his service-connected pes planus. The Board finds that more development is needed for the remaining issues.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and bilateral finger condition are both remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection has been denied for the Veteran's bilateral finger condition as secondary to his service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU prior to January 8, 2020 is dismissed. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and unclear evidence regarding his claimed disabilities. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records, and a comprehensive physical and mental health examination will be conducted to determine if any of the claimed conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an anxiety disorder, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are currently service connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ankle disability and bunions, including as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus with metatarsalgia or a left ankle disability. The RO should obtain updated VA treatment records and schedule the Veteran for new VA examinations to address the issues of service connection.