Ankle decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine, joint aches, left hip, right hip, left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, bilateral foot, psychiatric disorder, mitral valve insufficiency and coronary artery disease, hernia disorder, and dental disorders due to the need for further evidentiary development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete VA treatment records and inadequate medical opinions. The issues of cervical spine, right hand, left hand, sciatica (right and left lower extremities), and talofibular ligament strain of the right ankle will be addressed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of his left foot, finding that there is no effective function remaining other than what would be equally well served by an amputation with a suitable prosthetic appliance.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the bilateral ankles and prostate cancer, finding no evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Veteran's GERD, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability have been granted service connection. Additionally, the Veteran has been granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, insomnia disorder, right ankle and knee disorders, and hearing loss, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of February 11, 2021. The Board finds the evidence insufficient to determine his unemployability prior to that date.

The Veteran's right hip disabilities, including limitation of flexion and extension, are not rated higher than the current 10% disability ratings.,For his right ankle sprain prior to May 4, 2018, a 20% rating is granted. However, from that date onward, no higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the severity of his disabilities and determine if they warrant higher ratings.

The Board has determined that additional medical evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including updated treatment records and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right ankle, left ankle, and low back disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the original decision.

The Veteran's service-connected gout, lower extremities (including right ankle and left big toe), is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of his left ankle condition and remanded the back condition claim. The Court ordered a remand due to VA not obtaining SSA records and not properly addressing new evidence in the claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete information regarding his periods of active duty and inactive duty training. The Veteran needs further verification from the U.S. Coast Guard personnel office.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's left ankle disability is denied as not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for right and left ankle conditions due to insufficient opinions in the previous VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic pain syndrome is related to his service-connected disabilities and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle sprain and right ankle disability have been remanded due to insufficient evidence of current disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and initial ratings have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal by his representative.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations related to cervical spine, hip, right ankle, lumbar spine, and pulmonary disabilities due to incomplete or insufficient examination reports.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed it.