Ankle decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened, and the appeal is granted. The claims for service connection for other conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back, left wrist, right ankle, athlete's foot, and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) conditions due to insufficient medical evidence to decide the claims. A VA examination is necessary in each case.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, characterized by ligamentous strain, bursitis, and tarsal tunnel syndrome, has been rated at 10 percent since October 14, 2014. The Board has determined that a higher rating of 30 percent is warranted due to ankylosis in dorsiflexion between 0 and 10 degrees.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and medical opinions are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including hypertension, hand, shoulder, ankle, TBI, psoriasis, and sleep disorder. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has ordered further development to determine if the Veteran's service-connected hypertension and right ankle disorder were immediate or underlying causes of his death in January 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip and ankle disabilities, as well as a gastrointestinal disability, were denied. The Board found that these conditions are not related to his active duty service or any service-connected condition.,The Veteran was unable to attend the required VA examinations.

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

The Board has granted service connection for right and left ankle disorders, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a failure to obtain private treatment records from Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka, Kansas. The Veteran's attorney requested these records and the VA is required to attempt to obtain them.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding aggravation of a left ankle disorder by service-connected diabetes mellitus or right knee psoriatic arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and extraschedular evaluations for his right ankle and knee disabilities, as well as his claim for a TDIU rating due to service-connected disabilities. The case will be returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle disability, residuals of TBI, cervical spine disability, and low back disability are not fully addressed due to incomplete medical opinions. The cases have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disability and service connection for a left ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's appeals for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral pes planus, an effective date prior to December 6, 2014 for the grant of a 50 percent disability rating for bilateral pes planus, and nonservice-connected pension have been dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received for sleep apnea, right ankle arthritis, and left ankle arthritis. The claims are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to outstanding SSA records that may contain relevant evidence. The earlier effective date claim is inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Board has decided that the May 2020 VA examination was inadequate and remanded for an adequate medical opinion on the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right ankle condition due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a retrospective medical opinion regarding his left ankle disability prior to November 18, 2011, and for extraschedular consideration of his claim since November 18, 2011.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's cervical spine, right knee, left ankle, sinusitis, and rhinitis disabilities. Additionally, new examinations are required to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral foot, CFS, and bilateral hearing disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, claimed as anxiety and depression, and for insomnia has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right foot disability has been remanded due to the submission of new evidence since the March 2010 rating decision.