Ankle decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ankle midtarsal joint arthritis, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected left foot and left ankle disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left ankle, back, and bilateral foot disabilities due to incomplete records and need for updated opinions. The right foot disability claim is also being remanded as it was not previously adjudicated.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for higher disability evaluations and TDIU. This includes obtaining VA treatment records, scheduling additional examinations, and reviewing all evidence added since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain a substantially gainful occupation, warranting referral for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with her educational and occupational background prior to April 16, 2019.

The Veteran's dental and jaw infections are remanded for a VA examination to determine if they are related to his service or his service-connected acne. The right leg condition, including ankle, knee, and hip conditions, is also remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further examinations to assess the severity of his lumbar spine, cervical spine, left ankle and left knee disabilities. The Veteran testified that he experiences flare-ups and limitations due to these conditions.

The Veteran's current osteoarthritis of the bilateral feet, ankles, knees, hips, and lumbosacral disc syndrome are granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, right knee meniscal tear, left knee meniscal tear with limitation of motion, left knee meniscal tear with instability, chronic right ankle strain, and scar, left side of head are all remanded for further examination and rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed deviated nasal septum, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, or right knee disability at any time during the period on appeal. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is less likely than not related to his active duty service. These issues are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment since April 1, 2006.

The Board denied service connection for right hip arthritis, left hip arthritis, right ankle arthritis, and left ankle disability. The disabilities were not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's left foot/ankle talar talocalcaneal joint stress fracture residuals are currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board is remanding to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for a right ankle disability was denied, and the effective date for service connection of this condition was also denied. The Veteran's initial claim for service connection was denied in November 2002, but he filed a new request to reopen his claim in November 2010, which resulted in a grant of service connection with an effective date of November 17, 2010.

The appeal for service connection of various conditions, including left ankle disorder, disability of the ball of the left foot, bilateral sciatica, bilateral hip pain, right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, and right ankle strain has been withdrawn. The remaining issues of service connection for a low back disorder and right ankle strain have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence being submitted. The Veteran's headaches, right foot/ankle disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all being reconsidered.

Service connection is granted for right and left knee disabilities, as well as back and right ankle disabilities. Service connection for neck disability was dismissed.,The Veteran's right and left knees are found to be related to service due to degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling for posttraumatic arthritis and residuals of fracture, which is the maximum schedular evaluation. The separate rating for right ankle instability is granted at 20 percent.,The issue of entitlement to a TDIU remains pending due to insufficient information.

The Board has remanded the case due to a procedural issue and the need for a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, migraine headaches, cervical spondylosis with myofascial pain syndrome, lumbar DDD, and bilateral ankle tendonitis, render him incapable of re-entering the workforce and working in any substantially gainful capacity. The Board has granted his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).