Ankle decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to unavailability of VA examinations. The appeals are pending and will be adjudicated without the VA examination if the Veteran does not show up.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions and the need for additional evidence, including private treatment records.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for bilateral flat feet and degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the bilateral ankle, but has remanded both issues due to a lack of evidence from periods of active duty for training or inactive duty for training.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability was granted. The TDIU claim was also granted, and the issues related to left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, left ankle disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability were remanded.

An effective date of January 15, 2015, is granted for service connection of right ankle and right knee disabilities.,The Veteran's claim to reopen his skin disorder was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, bilateral shoulder disabilities, lumbar spine disability, neck disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need to undergo additional medical examinations and provide any necessary authorization for private records.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals regarding the right ankle disability, left ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board dismissed these appeals as a result.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a maximum schedular rating of 100 percent effective October 6, 2022. Claims for left knee disability, right ankle disability, and right ear hearing loss were granted with new evidence. Other claims are being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his right and left ankle disabilities, are not service-connected.,The Veteran testified about experiencing knee and ankle issues during basic training and boot camp. He also mentioned ongoing pain in these areas post-service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding medical records and further examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim for entitlement to service connection for a headache disability is granted. The application to reopen the previously denied claim for entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disorder and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for staph infection residuals, post-surgery carpal tunnel, knee, and collar bone due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to active duty.,The Veteran's left ankle disorder was not found related to service, while his staph infection residuals were attributed to VA surgical treatments.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, and therefore, the claim is denied.,For the remaining claims, the Board finds insufficient evidence to determine whether any of these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle and knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds they warrant a higher rating. The claims for increased ratings remain on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder, left first toe disability, and right ankle disability prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right eye disability, low back disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability due to lack of a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating determinations due to a lack of VA examiners' CVs, as well as scheduling issues with previous examinations. The Veteran will be provided with new VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and bilateral ankle pain due to potential aggravation during basic training. The Veteran needs a new opinion regarding whether his preexisting conditions were aggravated by in-service events, as well as an assessment of any current disabilities related to these issues.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle osteoarthritis, sinus tarsi syndrome of the left foot, and right fifth metatarsal base arthritis (small toe) as not related to active service or secondary to a service-connected condition.,The Veteran's current diagnoses were not found to be causally linked to his in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his claimed disabilities, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis and unspecified autoimmune disorder, which he contends are related to exposure to ionizing radiation at Camp Lejeune. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions on whether these conditions are related to active service.