Ankle decisions — 2022

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus. The cases of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and MDD, entitlement to service connection for varicose veins, and entitlement to service connection for right ankle condition are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral eye disorder, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeals during a hearing.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (MDD and sleep disturbances) has been reopened due to new evidence received since the last rating decision.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right knee and shoulder strains, left foot plantar fasciitis, left and right ankle disabilities, and a claim for TDIU. The claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records, conducting new examinations, and issuing notice letters regarding the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination for the right ankle disability.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, attributing it to the Veteran's obesity and age rather than his PTSD. The claim for dry eye was also denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to service.,For both left and right ankle conditions, the Board found that there were no in-service diagnoses or complaints related to these issues, and thus denied service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient nexus opinions provided by VA examiners. The Veteran's left shoulder, fibromyalgia condition, right and left ankle disorders are all being reviewed further.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for further development. The case is also being returned for additional examination as the Veteran refused a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims.,No new evidence or changes in disability status were presented, and all issues on appeal are now closed.

The Board has remanded the claim for a left ankle disorder due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding her symptoms and service connection.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5271, and a higher rating of 30 percent is granted for marked limitation in motion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right ankle and right shoulder disabilities due to insufficient review of relevant service treatment records.,Your current rating for a right thumb disability is consistent with the currently assigned 10 percent rating.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hand disability and bilateral ankle, foot, and toe disabilities due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service or any other relevant factors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal regarding an increased rating for his right ankle disability and service connection for kidney cancer must be remanded due to insufficient evidence of record.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with the remand instructions and additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased disability ratings, service connection, and TDIU.

The Board denied the petition to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury sustained in September 2004, finding that the evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, secondary to her service-connected bilateral heel disability. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of service connection for a right knee disability is granted. On de novo review, service connection for a right knee chondromalacia is granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right hip and lumbar spine conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since October 28, 2015. The Board finds that the criteria for TDIU are met.

The Veteran's recurrent lateral collateral ligament sprain of the right ankle and tinnitus have been granted service connection.,Service connection for a left knee disability is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic condition and that his current disability is not causally related to any event during service. The Board also found that his service-connected right knee disorder did not cause or aggravate his right ankle disorder.