Ankle decisions — 2023

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection on several conditions due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, left ankle, and right ankle conditions, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder. The VA examinations did not consider relevant evidence from 2010 to 2011, and there are outstanding treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right hip, and left hip disabilities as secondary to his service-connected bilateral ankle disability.,There is no direct evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service. The VA examiner found that the current back condition and bilateral hip disabilities are more likely due to natural aging processes rather than the service-connected ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her right ankle and knee conditions, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since February 8, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds the Veteran's report of noise exposure during service consistent with his DD214, and acknowledges that he has indicated a continuity of symptomatology from service to present. However, the Board also notes that there are no service treatment records documenting any relevant complaints or diagnoses of tinnitus. The Veteran was provided an addendum opinion on remand regarding the etiology of his lumbar spine disability due to carrying heavy protective gear during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical findings regarding range of motion loss during repeated use over time, and further development is required before the claim can be adjudicated on the merits.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an adequate opinion regarding secondary service connection for a left ankle disorder. The Veteran's right shoulder disorder is denied as not incurred in or related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, degenerative arthritis of the left and right ankles, as well as right and left knee disabilities have all been denied. The evidence does not support a compensable evaluation for any of these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for service connection of a right ankle disorder, which was secondary to service-connected plantar fasciitis.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and bilateral knee and ankle conditions, finding that the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder caused or aggravated these conditions through obesity as an intermediate step. The rating assigned is 10 percent.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for an initial rating more than 10 percent for right foot/ankle Achilles tendon rupture and an initial compensable rating for scar, surgical repair of right Achilles tendon.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right leg disorder, including his current diagnoses such as right foot degenerative arthrosis and right ankle and foot pain. The matter is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for neck disorder, back disorder, left upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, right ankle condition, bilateral carotid artery disease, COPD, and tinnitus.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service event that supports the Veteran's claims.

The Board denied service connection for a gastrointestinal disability, skin disability, and right ankle disability due to the lack of evidence showing that any current disabilities are related to service or a service-connected condition.,There is no currently diagnosed chronic right ankle disability in the Veteran's medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment due to lack of anatomical loss or permanent loss of use of a hand or foot.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence has been received with respect to the claims for service connection for left and right foot conditions sufficient to warrant readjudication. As such, the Board finds that a remand is necessary so that the AOJ can readjudicate the claims on the merits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed. The issues of TDIU, severance of service connection for residuals of a TBI and headache disorder, reduction of rating for acquired psychiatric disorder, and remand for additional determinations on various conditions have been addressed.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if the Veteran had a service-connected disability at the time of discharge, which would have justified her discharge.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on avulsion fracture of left thumb, limitation of extension long finger, ulnar neuropathy, and right ulnar neuropathy have been withdrawn. The request for service connection for left ankle condition has been remanded due to new evidence being received.