Ankle decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) as there is no evidence that he is incapable of performing the physical and mental acts required by employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran's right ankle and foot disabilities, excluding pes planus, are being reviewed for service connection.

The Board has determined that another remand is necessary due to inadequacies in the VA examinations and a lack of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The claim for an increased rating for right ankle disability will be readjudicated after obtaining additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and the current condition is not related to service.,The claims for secondary service connection for low back and right knee disabilities are denied because the Veteran does not have a currently service-connected primary disability. ,The claim for TDIU is denied as the Veteran has no service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle and left foot disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing the presence of these conditions during or after active duty.,Service connection was also denied for back disability as there is no evidence of an in-service injury, disease, or symptomatology that could be linked to current symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic left ankle instability, ankle arthritis, and chronically torn ligaments, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible testimony regarding his in-service injuries and continuous symptoms since separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left ankle sprain and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent since December 20, 2013. The Board has remanded the issues for further development and potential rating adjustments.

The Veteran's chronic left ankle strain and right ankle sprain have been rated at the maximum allowable under current VA regulations. The Board has found that there is no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions warranting higher ratings.

The Board denied service connection for right knee and right foot disorders, finding that the current conditions are not related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.,The evidence did not support a secondary service connection claim.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for service connection for cervical spine arthritis, lumbar spine arthritis, disc bulges, and right ankle arthritis was dismissed. The appeals for seborrheic dermatitis, right knee disability, TMJ, and major depressive disorder were granted.,The Veteran is now entitled to an increased rating of 40 percent for his right foot disability, a 50 percent rating for his right wrist degenerative arthritis from April 26, 2016, and a TDIU from August 8, 2016 to October 19, 2020.

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn all pending claims, including the right and left ankle disability issues. The Board is dismissing these cases as a result.

The Veteran's knee and ankle disabilities were denied, while service connection for a right ankle disability was granted. The back disability claim was also denied as secondary to the knee disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a link between his current degenerative arthritis and his active service.,The Board has also remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle and left foot disabilities due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of proper evidentiary development.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, a lumbosacral spine disability, a right ankle disability, and bilateral knee disabilities due to the lack of evidence supporting an in-service stressor or injury related to these conditions.,Service connection was also denied for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for gastrointestinal disability, to include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and left ankle disability. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, finding no evidence of a chronic condition related to active service.,The Veteran reported in-service injuries but failed to provide credible medical nexus opinions or evidence linking his current ankle conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied. The appeal is also REMANDED for further action on the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Board has denied service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability and has remanded the issues of evaluating the Veteran's left ankle lateral collateral ligament strain and right ankle degenerative changes.