Ankle decisions — 2022

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent from August 11, 2010. From July 16, 2019, the Veteran is granted a 30 percent rating for his left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further verification of the Veteran's service records and to include any available medical records related to his periods of active duty, active duty for training, and inactive duty for training with the Texas Army National Guard.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a right ankle disability, left knee disability, right elbow disability, residuals of a right fifth little finger injury, traumatic brain injury, and skin rash secondary to exposure to radiation. The reasons include the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.,The Board also requested that VA develop evidence regarding possible exposure to radiation in Palomares, Spain.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, skin, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left ankle disability has been denied. The Board also remanded the secondary service connection claims for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability as secondary to his service-connected left ankle condition, finding that the current severity of the right hip condition was greater than before aggravation due to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since July 24, 2013.

The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus disability is granted as service connection due to the onset in service and persistence since.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, numbness in left hand, right shoulder condition, back condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, left ankle condition, and right ankle condition are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent effective March 8, 2012.,VA has determined that the earliest date of entitlement for service connection of a right ankle disability is March 8, 2012.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection of his right ankle, left knee, lumbar spine, and respiratory disabilities. The issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than major depressive disorder (MDD), to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); increased ratings for right ankle and knee disorders; and entitlement to a total disability rating based upon unemployability due to service-connected disabilities are being remanded as the Board finds that there is insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric condition, right ankle and knee disorders, and the occurrence of his reported witnessing of a fellow Marine's death during training.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection and TDIU issues. The right ankle disability has been granted a 20% rating, but the other claims remain pending.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes. The right ear hearing loss claim is remanded due to incomplete examination and need for an etiological opinion regarding any hearing loss shown during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal of increased evaluations for his service-connected right and left knee, and right and left ankle disabilities has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing from appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to January 15, 2021 are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence since the last statement of the case.,A VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing his contentions of in-service injuries.

The Veteran's knee disabilities are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's foot disabilities are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's bilateral hallux valgus is remanded for further development.,The Veteran's hearing loss and dizziness claims are remanded for further development.

Service connection is granted for a deviated nasal septum and right ankle strain. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability prior to February 10, 2022 remains in appellate status.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of a right knee disability, and withdrew the appeals for increased ratings on three other disabilities (back, lower extremity nerve, and right ankle scar). The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for a right ankle disability prior to September 23, 2005.