Ankle decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, but the issues of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions addressing potential in-service causation.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee, left ankle, and obstructive sleep apnea disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left knee and ankle disabilities, as well as the TDIU claim based on need for aid and attendance, are being remanded due to incomplete development. The VA is required to obtain additional medical records, conduct new examinations by orthopedic surgeons or orthopedists, address the impact of the Veteran's conditions on daily activities, and determine if he requires assistance with daily living.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle disability, an upper back disability, and a neck disability due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is already service connected for radiculopathy related to degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, but he contends that his current disabilities are secondary or aggravated by this condition.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various ankle and knee disabilities, as well as skin cancer and low back disability due to outstanding medical records and further examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, residuals of a right shoulder injury, left ankle condition, and right hip condition. The request to reopen his claim for PTSD was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, left ankle, and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient examination reports.,New evidence received since the May 2011 rating decision includes diagnoses of bilateral knee strain, bilateral shoulder strain, left ankle strain, arthralgia of the shoulder and knee, and hypermobility syndrome.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and sinusitis. Service connection for left ankle disability is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and bilateral knee disorders, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for left leg meralgia paresthetica was granted. The claims for right ankle disorder, chest pain, and insomnia are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and residuals of right ankle sprain are being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee and left knee conditions as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability.,Effective August 29, 2013, the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disabilities, including rheumatoid arthritis and its secondary effects on his knees. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development and readjudication.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to November 27, 2016. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected unspecified depressive disorder and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine. The right knee, right hip, left ankle, and low back disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's left ankle disability was rated at 10% prior to February 7, 2021. After the revision of VA regulations, a 20% rating for marked limitation of motion is granted effective August 21, 2009.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability and left ankle disability were granted increased ratings, with the foot disability receiving a rating of 30 percent from March 23, 2016 to October 20, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened, but the issue remains remanded due to insufficient evidence. The TDIU claim was granted, and the left ankle tendonitis rating is also being remanded.,The Veteran's PTSD with panic disorder with agoraphobia, MDD, and alcohol and cannabis use disorder in remission continues to affect his employment, leading to a TDIU grant.

The Board dismissed all appeals for increased ratings and service connection due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.