Ankle decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and additional evidence being added to the file.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and ratings for various conditions, including right foot hallux valgus, left knee disability (meniscal tear), right ankle strain, PTSD, Morton's neuroma of the left foot, and left tibiofibular sprain. Additional VA treatment records need to be obtained, as well as Social Security Administration records.

The appeals for service connection of various joint conditions, including as secondary to a service-connected right ankle disability, have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and lack of a proper rationale for the medical opinion regarding the cause of death. The Veteran's surviving spouse is seeking service connection for the cause of his death, which includes multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for various disability ratings and service connection claims have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is granted service connection. The right knee and right ankle conditions are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right ankle strains, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are linked to injuries incurred during active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right ankle conditions due to new evidence received since the final denial. The Board finds that these conditions are related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the remaining issues of service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right foot disability (other than right lower extremity neuropathy), left foot disability (other than left lower extremity neuropathy), and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claims for service connection for low back pain, left ankle disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability is granted.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a left foot disability has been remanded.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a right foot disability has been remanded.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a left hip disability has been remanded.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a right hip disability has been remanded.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability has been remanded.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability has been remanded.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a right ankle disability has been remanded.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a left ankle disability has been remanded.

The Board has ordered a new medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability caused or aggravated circulation issues that prevented healing of ulcers on his right foot, and whether these issues contributed to his cause of death from CAD and MI.

The Veteran's bilateral pes cavus, right ankle disability, and erectile dysfunction claims have been granted. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen these claims and established service connection for the conditions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his service connection claim for a back disability is granted. The Board has also remanded the claims of service connection for right shoulder, bilateral hands, bilateral knees, and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient competent medical evidence on file.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left leg disability, including his arthritis and its relationship to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right knee, and right ankle disabilities. The Veteran did not have these conditions during or within one year after her military service, nor can they be attributed to service.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding bilateral shoulder condition, right ankle reconstruction with residual scar, and lateral collateral ligament instability of the left knee due to the appellant's withdrawal request.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and withdrawn his appeal regarding an increased rating for left ankle sprain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability, which includes lumbar spine kyphoscoliosis with degenerative changes, is secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's back disability was caused by his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates were withdrawn.,A 10 percent rating was granted for a scar, status post herniorrhaphy. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to new evidence received since the October 2016 SOC.