Ankle decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional records and verification of his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining VA treatment records from Beckley VAMC and providing addendum medical opinions.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the remaining issues on appeal, including obtaining service treatment records and any relevant United States Postal Service medical records.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of painful scars and scars of the right and left lower extremities have been withdrawn. The appeal for service connection of a bilateral ankle condition has been remanded due to lack of current evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to make a determination on the merits of these claims.

The Board has remanded the cases of a right ankle disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure the Veteran's and his attorney representative are properly informed of requests for evidence, and to obtain any outstanding records. The claims will be remanded for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and her military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various ankle and hip conditions, as well as foot conditions. A Statement of the Case must be issued to address these issues.

The Veteran's right ankle condition is denied as not related to his military service.,His right knee disability, which includes limitation of flexion and extension, is also remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss due to the lack of a current disability meeting VA criteria. The claims for right knee and bilateral ankle disabilities are remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the right knee claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Morning Reports from the Veteran's unit during Basic Training and seeking opinions on whether the Veteran's current joint disorders are related to his service or due to herbicide exposure. The claims of urinary incontinence, left thumb disorder, right thumb disorder, and rectal, bowel, or colon disability as due to military sexual assault have also been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the remaining issues on appeal due to incomplete service records.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining updated income information for pension eligibility, completing a VA Form 21-8940 for TDIU, and scheduling an ankle examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension, heart disorder, BPH, cervical spine degenerative disc disease with cervical muscle spasm, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and spondylosis, bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy, bilateral hip degenerative arthritis, right knee DJD, right ankle condition, vision disability (glaucoma and cataracts), and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service.

The Board dismissed all appeals due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional evidence and development, including obtaining private treatment records and worker's compensation claim information.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle disability, rhinitis, and migraines. The left ankle disability is related to service due to a current diagnosis of lateral collateral ligament strain and deltoid ligament sprain. Rhinitis is presumed as secondary to Gulf War environmental hazards exposure. Migraines are found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of right knee, right ankle, bilateral eye, and tinnitus disabilities have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the remaining issues: nose/sinus disability, left knee disability, cervical spine disability, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted on a direct basis. The remaining issues are remanded for further development and examination.