Ankle decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination and because of incomplete service treatment records. The claim will be reconsidered after these issues are addressed.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities is established, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a lumbar spine disability, right ankle disability, and right knee disability due to issues with the adequacy of the reasons and bases provided in the decision. The cases are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeals of service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, hypertension, gastrointestinal condition (hiatal hernia and acid reflux), arthritis of the upper extremities, and left ankle condition have been dismissed as moot due to the grant of these conditions in a prior rating decision. The appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has also been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left ankle conditions due to incomplete service treatment records. The case is returned to the RO for further development, including obtaining missing STRs and VA/Non-VA treatment records, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's Raynaud's syndrome is now rated at 40 percent effective February 11, 2009. The rating for other disabilities remains under review.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right ankle disability was denied. The denial is based on the lack of current evidence of a right ankle disability.,For the initial rating period, the Veteran's left tibia fracture residuals were rated at 10 percent and not higher. This decision does not address whether there are separate ratings for different parts of the knee or if other diagnostic codes apply.

The Veteran's right ankle peroneal tendonitis and other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder (psychiatric disability) have been rated, but the Board has ordered remand for additional development due to missing VA examination records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations. The issues include left shoulder, right shoulder, right ankle, stress disorder, GERD disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and keratosis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of September 7, 2010.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's right ankle disability is incurred in or caused by service, and whether it is proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected lumbar spine disability. The decision on the rating issue remains remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for joint conditions including arthritis due to a lack of an adequate etiological opinion. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for traumatic brain injury, left knee degenerative joint disease, and left ankle degenerative joint disease have been granted. The service connection is established based on direct evidence of the conditions during active duty.

The Board denied service connection for left foot and right foot or ankle disabilities, as well as SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound. The claims were denied due to lack of evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee condition and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for her right ankle condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability, to include arthritis. The remaining issues of service connection for lumbar spine disability, left shoulder strain, and psychiatric disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle and left knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examination reports, failure to consider all evidence in the claims file, and changes in rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sciatic pain, low back disability, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) based on the evidence showing these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral ankle, left knee (status post total knee replacement), right knee, and vertigo disorders. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not shown as chronic in service or related to an in-service injury or disease.,Service connection was also denied for fatigue due to lack of a diagnosis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for his right great toe disability, left ankle disability, PTSD, Morton's neuroma with pes planus, and TDIU prior to November 15, 2013. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD are also remanded.