Ankle decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left ankle disorder has been granted with an effective date of August 25, 2011. The appeal is dismissed because the issue has been rendered moot by the grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that further remand is necessary to ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist in the evaluation of the Veteran's right shoulder, left ankle, and sleep apnea claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as related to in-service noise exposure.,His right ankle injury residuals are denied due to lack of evidence of a current disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disorder and entitlement to a compensable rating for tension headaches due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his conditions.

The claim for service connection for a right ankle disability is granted. The Veteran's PTSD remains at a 70 percent rating, but the Board finds no evidence of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities prior to December 21, 2016 is determined to be 100 percent.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims related to his right ankle, bilateral knee pain, plantar warts, migraine headaches, spinal stenosis, a bilateral elbow condition, ulcerative colitis, and sleep apnea. The VA will need to obtain any relevant private treatment records and schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for ratings greater than 10 percent for left and right ankle disabilities, as well as a compensable rating for left hand dermatitis due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back, right shoulder, left shoulder, right ankle, and left ankle conditions due to a lack of examination related to toxic exposure risk activities (TERA) under the PACT Act and an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a left ankle disability, right hip disability status post total right hip replacement, and gastric disability, to include GERD. The AOJ will obtain SSA records, provide an addendum opinion on the etiology of the right hip disability, and schedule a TERA examination for the gastric disability.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of his April 2020 grant of service connection. The Board found that an earlier effective date was not warranted and denied a higher initial rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, right ankle, left knee, and right knee conditions. The claim for neck condition is also being remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for right big toe injury, but has remanded the issues of service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome with glenohumeral joint dislocation, lower back injury/strain, and right ankle injury/strain. Service connection is also remanded for anxiety with depression and insomnia.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder disorder, fibromyalgia condition, right and left ankle disorders. The claims are being returned for new VA medical opinions considering the Veteran's exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal disabilities, including left and right hip, knee, ankle, and foot conditions. The issues are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for SMC at the housebound rate is denied as he does not meet the threshold requirements for such a grant due to his service-connected disabilities and their ratings.

Service connection is granted for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder, and degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder. Service connection is also granted for degenerative arthritis of the left ankle and right ankle.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions provided are inadequate and requires further examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's right knee and right ankle disabilities, including during flare-ups.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle degenerative arthritis and lateral collateral ligament sprain, as well as right ankle strain and lateral collateral ligament sprain. The Veteran's combined disability rating is currently 70 percent.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of a left ankle disorder and denied his claim for service connection of a thoracolumbar spine disorder due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and military service.