Ankle decisions — 2022

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a skin rash on the right ankle and granted it. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, and hypertension are remanded due to conflicting evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from February 1, 2017 to May 16, 2019.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for high blood pressure and HIV, finding no evidence of their onset in service or a link to service. The claim for prostate cancer is remanded due to inadequate examination.,Service connection for prostate cancer will be granted based on exposure to asbestos during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 26, 2020. From that date, the Veteran meets the percentage requirements for consideration of TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including ankle, hand, knee, skin, heart, prostate, and erectile dysfunction conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,Specifically, the Veteran needs VA examinations to determine if his current disabilities are related to service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus and PTSD, have been dismissed due to the failure to appeal the January 2021 Board decision.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are not rated higher than 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his disabilities due to inadequate opinions in some cases, and requests for additional medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is for a higher rating for his right ankle DJD, currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran also appeals for an earlier effective date for the 10 percent rating he received in March 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and tinnitus, were found to be sufficient for a TDIU prior to May 10, 2017. The appeal is granted.

The Board has remanded all claims for service connection due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment during the period from January 24, 2008 through September 8, 2009.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at the highest allowable rating of 20 percent from February 26, 2021. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted under any other diagnostic code.,The Veteran's claim for a separate disability rating for pes planus remains pending and needs to be addressed.

The appeals for service connection and compensation under the 1151 Act have been dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to an in-service injury and that the passage of time between discharge from active service and medical documentation of the claimed disability tends against the claim.

The Veteran's neck condition, left ankle condition, and hemorrhoids have all been granted service connection. The neck condition was reopened after new evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right wrist, left shoulder, and left ankle disabilities have been denied. The highest schedular rating of 10 percent has already been assigned for each condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disorders, including hip, ankle, foot, and neck conditions. The appeal is pending until all outstanding records are obtained.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for a right knee condition and a right ankle injury due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for entitlement to increased rating for a left ankle disability, service connection for low back disability and right knee disability due to need for new VA examinations.