Ankle decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inconsistencies in the VA examination reports. The Veteran's knee and ankle conditions are being evaluated again to determine their current severity.

The Board has remanded the claims multiple times for further information and more complete findings. The Veteran's ankle disabilities have resulted in marked limitations of motion, but no ankylosis or functional equivalent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination to evaluate the current severity of his disability under the newly revised rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since March 23, 2015. The Board has granted a TDIU effective that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral ankle disability, left knee strain, and right knee arthritis due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a left shoulder condition was granted. The claims for bilateral knee and ankle conditions are remanded.

The Board has found there has not been substantial compliance with its February 2022 remand instructions and has therefore ordered the case to be remanded for further development, including obtaining new medical addendum opinions addressing aggravation for secondary service connection of bilateral lower extremity varicosities, bilateral ankles, and bilateral knees.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to January 30, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for neck, back, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities due to additional development needed.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence received since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The Veteran seeks service connection for a neck condition and increased ratings for left shoulder and right ankle conditions. These issues are now pending before the AOJ.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% since November 1, 2006. The TDIU issue is moot due to the 100% rating for PTSD. SMC was granted effective September 28, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability has been reopened, and he is now entitled to have his case reviewed on the merits.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.

The Board denied service connection for respiratory, right ankle, left ankle, and neck disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Specifically, the VA examinations found no evidence of a current respiratory disorder related to in-service asbestos exposure. The right and left ankle disorders were not found to be directly related to service or aggravated by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of her right ankle disability, finding that there is no evidence linking her current condition to her military service.

The Board has dismissed the issues of initial ratings higher than 10 percent for right and left ankle strains prior to December 20, 2019. The issue of a higher rating for thoracolumbar strain (back disability) prior to December 20, 2019 is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied, but he is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for various conditions and disability ratings due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal of his substantive appeal being untimely, as it was received more than 60 days after the September 2018 statement of the case and more than one year after the May 2017 notification letter.

The Veteran's tinnitus, skin disorder, left foot and ankle disorders, back disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and bilateral knee disorder are all remanded for further examination and determination of service connection.