Ankle decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and affording the Veteran a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the lack of post-April 2017 treatment records from his physical therapy facility, which are necessary for a complete evaluation of his claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, ankle, and foot conditions as well as left and right ear conditions due to incomplete development of records from Gainesville/Lake City VAMC.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has decided that a disability rating greater than 50 percent for other specified trauma and stress-related disorder is denied, service connection for arthritis of the bilateral knees, shoulders, hands, hips, elbows, and ankles is granted, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder has been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection of right ankle and right knee conditions due to insufficient evidence, requiring further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's right finger disability has been granted a 10 percent rating since November 1, 2011. The appeal for higher initial ratings and an earlier effective date is remanded due to the need for further evaluation of her right ankle sprain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disorder is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back, cervical spine, bilateral ankle, and bilateral hip disabilities due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities have prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment since June 16, 2009. The Board finds that an effective date of June 16, 2009 is warranted on extra-schedular basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to outstanding VA treatment records, relevant SSA records, and a need for an examination. The issues are inextricably intertwined with TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral foot and ankle disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right ankle disabilities, finding that the evidence does not establish a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's right ankle condition is currently rated as 10 percent for the period from October 20, 2016 to February 6, 2022. The appeal for a higher rating beyond this date has been denied.

The Veteran's appeals for various disability ratings have been withdrawn and are dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of his appeal as to all issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to conflicting opinions from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development and an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle condition.

The claim of service connection for left ankle and neck disorders is being remanded due to insufficient evidence. Additional information and medical opinions are needed.

The Veteran's right ankle fracture has been granted increased ratings from September 30, 2008 to April 7, 2019 (10% rating) and from April 8, 2019 onwards (20% rating).,Increased ratings have also been granted for sciatic nerve radiculopathy in the right lower extremity from September 30, 2008 to June 14, 2016 (10% rating) and from June 15, 2016 onwards (10% rating).,Increased ratings have also been granted for sciatic nerve radiculopathy in the left lower extremity from September 30, 2008 to June 14, 2016 (10% rating) and from June 15, 2016 onwards (10% rating).,Increased ratings have also been granted for femoral nerve radiculopathy in the right lower extremity from March 12, 2012 to April 11, 2021 (10% rating) and from April 12, 2021 onwards (20% rating).

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability is rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, and no higher rating can be granted.