Ankle decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The April 1999 rating decision increased the ratings for left ankle strain, postoperative TMJ derangement, and PTSD. The Veteran's combined disability rating was now at 70%. However, his claim of TDIU based on CUE was denied as there was no evidence showing he could not secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been withdrawn. The Board is remanding the issues of service connection for shoulder, hip, and ankle disabilities due to lack of sufficient medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to lack of prior formal or informal claims filed before December 17, 2015.

The Veteran's right knee, ankle, and elbow disabilities have been granted initial ratings of 10 percent each. However, the claim for service connection for a left shoulder condition has been denied.

Service connection for chronic sinusitis is granted due to burn pit exposure. Service connection for compression neuralgia of the right foot/ankle is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination regarding the Veteran's right ankle condition and its relation to her service-connected feet and knees conditions. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has determined that there is not substantial compliance with previous remand directives regarding the service connection issues and a remand is required for addendum opinions to be obtained.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left ankle disorder, specifically his service connection claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist pain, right shin pain, and left shin pain due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities.,The Board also remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle strain (claimed as right ankle pain) and right knee osteoarthritis (claimed as right knee pain), as there is insufficient medical evidence to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle, right hand, and right knee conditions due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. The cases are now pending further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a VA medical examination to assess the Veteran's employment capacity due to his service-connected disabilities. The issues of rating left ankle chronic ligament strain and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of a left scapula fracture is granted. The initial rating for calcaneous bone spur, left foot is granted at 20 percent throughout the appeal period. The claim for calcaneous bone spur, right foot with second toe shortening is denied. The matter of an increased rating for achilles tendonitis, left ankle status post tendon repair is remanded.

The appeal for a higher rating for the left shoulder disability is dismissed.,The appeal for an earlier effective date for TDIU prior to February 3, 2017, is dismissed.,The appeal for eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits prior to February 3, 2017, is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disorder but has remanded the issue of service connection for a back disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of VA treatment records and an addendum medical opinion is needed.

The Board has denied reopening the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability and has remanded the issue of increased rating for left ankle disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for varicose veins was denied as her current condition is less likely than not related to her in-service symptoms.,Her right wrist disability was also denied, with the highest rating of 10 percent being granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board has remanded several issues, including those related to the Veteran's back, neck, sinusitis, asthma, bronchitis, arthritis, joint pain, right ankle, feet, knees, right wrist, elbows, shoulders, hips, and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and residuals of right ankle strain, finding that there is no persuasive evidence to support these claims.