Ankle decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded three issues: evaluating left knee degenerative joint disease, service connection for left and right ankle disorders secondary to the bilateral knee disorders.

The Veteran's claim for a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Board denied service connection for left, right hip, knee, and ankle disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for TDIU due to insufficient consideration of evidence and potential changes in disability ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his left knee, right ankle, and neck conditions due to incomplete records and inadequate VA examinations. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of his lower back disability, right ankle disability, and hearing loss in the right ear due to insufficient medical opinions and lack of recent VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for cervical spine degenerative disc disease is granted, and the claims for sinusitis, cervical spine radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and left ankle arthritis are remanded.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is productive of marked limitation of motion, and the Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected foot and knee disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU effective May 11, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left ankle conditions due to inadequate medical opinions provided in previous examinations. The VA is instructed to obtain SSA disability benefit records, conduct further examination(s), and provide a new opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's ankle conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new examination to determine the severity of his left ankle condition, including any related skin conditions. The effective date earlier than March 14, 2017 for service connection remains denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for right and left ankle degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of the disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 and 20 percent for his right ankle disability, as well as his TDIU claim prior to January 25, 2019. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The issues of service connection for cervical spine strain, lumbar spine strain, bilateral ankle lateral ligament strain, cephalgia headaches, myelodysplastic syndrome, and traumatic brain injury are remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle, broken leg, right knee, and lower back conditions have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right wrist, ankle, knee, hip, left knee, back, sciatica, and psychiatric disorders are all denied as there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a left knee disability and right ankle disability due to incomplete records, including missing inpatient treatment records from Chanute Air Force Base and VA treatment records. The Veteran is also requested to provide information about his SSA benefits.

The Board dismissed the appeals seeking service connection for various conditions including degenerative arthritis of the spine, left knee, hip pain, and right ankle pain and instability due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for fatty liver disease, left elbow condition, right elbow condition, bilateral knee condition, bilateral ankle condition, arthritis in joints other than knees, ankles, and elbows, and heart condition (CAD).

The Veteran's topical medications stained and damaged his clothing, warranting a clothing allowance for calendar year 2015.,His left knee brace caused wear and tear on his clothing, qualifying him for a clothing allowance for calendar year 2015.,Elbow crutches used by the Veteran due to his left knee disability also caused damage to his clothing, entitling him to a clothing allowance for calendar year 2015.,The right knee brace and back brace were not service-connected disabilities at the time of the decision, thus denying entitlement to a clothing allowance for these items in 2015.,Left ankle brace did not cause damage to his clothing as determined by VA, therefore denial of a clothing allowance for this item in 2015.