Ankle decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to incomplete development of records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal, neurological, and respiratory conditions due to incomplete development of records and inadequate examination reports.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot condition, finding that his current condition is not a congenital defect and was aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is inadequate to resolve these claims and remanded them for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, knee, ankle, and psychiatric disorders due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination. The Veteran is asked to provide any relevant medical records and treatment information.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck condition but has remanded the claims for bilateral shoulder, lower back, and right ankle conditions due to incomplete records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's knee conditions, including his right ankle bone spur.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at a maximum of 20 percent before January 8, 2020, and greater than 20 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis, left ankle, is currently rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected left ankle sprain caused or aggravated his right ankle condition.

The Board has found the November 2021 VA examination inadequate and remanded for a new examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected back disability. The ankle disability claim is granted with a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to July 31, 2019.

The Board has found that the Veteran's right ankle disability does not meet or approximate criteria for an increased rating higher than 20 percent, as there is no evidence of ankylosis. The appeal is remanded due to issues with TDIU.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative disc disease, bilateral hearing loss, otitis media, a left ankle disability, sinusitis, and costochondritis as there are no longer justiciable issues due to the grants of service connection in prior rating decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral dry eye syndrome, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder due to unresolved medical issues.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for left hip, right ankle, left ankle, left foot, low back and headache disabilities.,Service connection is granted for all claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, bilateral knee disability, left ankle disability, and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's disabilities are found to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection are inextricably intertwined with the claim for diabetes mellitus. Therefore, all issues related to heart condition, right and left leg deep vein thrombosis, lung condition, right ankle condition, face numbness, and depression secondary to diabetes mellitus must be remanded as well.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection claims were dismissed or remanded as requested. The claim of service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was granted, while the claims for hemorrhoids and chronic left ankle sprain are also granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral ankle and right knee conditions due to procedural issues, including a need for addendum opinions based on review of the evidence of record. The Veteran's service treatment records show foot/heel injuries in September 1987 and July 1989, as well as complaints of right knee pain in September 1987.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disorders, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current ankle conditions and his in-service injuries.