Ankle decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 13, 2016.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in March 2018 are insufficient for adjudicating the service connection claims. The Veteran's current disabilities are associated with his active duty, and further examination is needed to determine if any of these conditions clearly and unmistakably pre-existed his service or were aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's right flat foot condition, right ankle condition, or left leg condition to service or a service-connected disability. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and updating his military personnel file. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the claimed disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and left ankle disability, finding no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service injury that would support these claims.

The Board has found the prior VA examinations inadequate and remands for additional retrospective opinions on the issues of increased ratings for bilateral shin splints and a right ankle sprain.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right and left ankle disorders, right and left knee disorders, low back disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities meeting VA's regulatory definition of a hearing loss disability or any other qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Board has granted the appellant's claims for service connection for left and right ankle disabilities, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether these conditions are related to service. The decision also grants secondary service connection for the right ankle disability due to overuse of the affected side.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for right foot cold injury residuals and status post ankle fracture from March 21, 2016 is being remanded due to insufficient VA examinations addressing functional loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee and ankle arthralgia, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the other issues due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to inadequate compliance with prior remand orders.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted a 40% rating from December 13, 2021 to September 28, 2022. A higher rating for the entire appeal period is denied. The right knee disability and limitation of flexion are also denied.

The Board has determined that the complete service records have not been obtained and a remand is necessary to obtain them. Additionally, a VA examination with an opinion is needed to determine the nature, etiology, and severity of the Veteran's claimed lumbar spine, right foot, thoracic spine, and shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, but no higher.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right knee and ankle disabilities as secondary to her left knee disability, as well as a claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran's recurrent abscess of the right inguinal region has been granted service connection. The left ankle disorder, heart disease (claimed as hyperlipidemia), hypertension, and lazy eye have all been remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a right ankle disability, bilateral hip disabilities, insomnia, and left ankle disability due to inadequate VA opinions.,No rating assigned as no decision was made on these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for pes planus of the left foot and left ankle instability and pain as secondary to service-connected pes planus of the left foot, finding that there is at least an equipoise balance of evidence supporting these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.

The Veteran's diabetes is granted due to herbicide exposure. The claims for service connection of left ankle, peripheral neuropathy (upper and lower extremities), back disability, right shoulder, left shoulder, right ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities are all granted.