Ankle decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, right wrist disability, and left ankle disability have all been denied as there is no current evidence of a service-connected disability.,There are no findings or diagnoses of any current disabilities related to the claimed conditions in the record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted.,Service connection is established for IBS (claimed as chronic diarrhea), headaches, muscle pain, joint pain, fatigue, deviated septum, TMJ, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and hearing loss.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU due to his service-connected left ankle, right hip, and right knee disabilities as well as his panic disorder.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his left ankle disability was denied. Prior to July 1, 2020, the maximum schedular rating of 20% was assigned. Since July 1, 2020, he has been rated at 40%. The Board found that the current 40% rating adequately reflects his symptoms and disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right eye disability, left eye disability, cervical spine disability, right ankle disability, and erectile dysfunction. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim prior to September 28, 2009, which is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral ankle, knee, and lumbar spine disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing direct service connection and secondary service connection. The Veteran also had his claim for OSA remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The left ankle, fibroadenoma, and anterior trunk scar issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disability, including gout and fractures, began during active service and continues to this day. Therefore, service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable rating for residuals of a left hand injury, service connection for residuals of a right hand crush injury, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, circulatory disorder of the bilateral lower extremities, neurological disorder of the bilateral lower extremities, and left lower extremity scar are all remanded due to insufficient evidence. Additional VA and private treatment records are needed.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to the failure of VA to obtain necessary medical opinions as per previous remands. The Veteran's right knee and ankle disabilities, as well as his heart disorder, are being reviewed again.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction, attributing it to non-service-connected causes. It also remanded the issues of right and left ankle disabilities.,Service connection was not granted for right or left ankle disabilities due to lack of evidence showing their onset during active duty.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an ankle disability. The lung, low back, and foot disabilities are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including left ear hearing loss, cardiac disability, cervical spine disability, hip disabilities, knee disabilities, ankle disabilities, and shoulder and foot disabilities. The decision is based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's right ankle condition is currently rated as noncompensable, but the Board has granted a 20 percent rating for this condition.,The Veteran's right knee condition remains in dispute and requires further examination to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since May 22, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right ankle, right foot, and dermatitis/folliculitis disabilities due to a lack of recent private treatment records and the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and right ankle strain were granted service connection.,A new issue of entitlement to service connection for a right quadriceps disorder was remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for right ankle fracture residuals with fusion and osteoarthritis has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has found that further action is needed to address the competency of a VA examiner who conducted examinations in March 2020. The Veteran's request for this information was not addressed, and thus the case is being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective June 10, 2016.