Ankle decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities due to insufficient treatment records indicating a connection during or since service. The Veteran's lay statements regarding symptoms will be considered, and an examination is required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, Fibromyalgia, and physical injuries, make it impossible for him to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of his disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle disability, finding that it had its onset during his active service and is not related to any other condition. The decision also acknowledges ongoing symptoms since service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for the lumbar spine disability, left shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, left knee disability, and right ankle disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased evaluation for his right ankle fracture and service connection for degenerative disc disease have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various lower extremity and neck disorders due to a lack of medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, left thigh, and right ankle disabilities are not service-connected as they were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his left knee condition and service connection for hearing loss in both ears are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his left ear hearing loss is being remanded as he reported worsening symptoms and there was no right ear hearing loss diagnosed. A new examination is needed, considering his testimony of noise exposure during service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for his right ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new examination and opinion addressing whether it is related to service or within one year post-service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression), left hip disability, right hip disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations considering his lay statements and secondary theories of entitlement.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for his bilateral hip disability is being remanded as there was no current diagnosis found in a previous examination. A new opinion is needed regarding whether it is related to his back condition or aggravated by other conditions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for his bilateral ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations considering his lay statements and secondary theories of entitlement as raised at his hearing.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for his left knee condition is being remanded as there was no current diagnosis found in a previous examination. A new opinion is needed regarding whether it is related to his back condition or aggravated by other conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip strain, low back disability, tinnitus, and right ankle strain due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional VA and private clinical documentation.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and remanded the left ankle disability claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for a right ankle disability prior to May 4, 2011 and for TDIU due to issues regarding the severity of the Veteran's right ankle disability. The decision is pending further development.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot and right ankle disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are causally related to his active-duty service.,Service connection was denied for bilateral cataracts and lattice degeneration (eye conditions) and migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding his psychiatric, skin, neurological, digestive, and genitourinary disabilities. The orthopedic claims are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with prior instructions for an ankle examination. The Veteran's claim for increased disability rating for arthritis of the left ankle is now pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold requirements for TDIU and they do not render him unemployable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right great toe disability is causally related to his service-connected left ankle disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and duty-to-assist errors. The claims will be reconsidered with new evidence and evaluations.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional records from correctional facilities where the Veteran served.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (right knee degenerative joint disease, right knee instability, left ankle fracture, and left ankle scar) are rated at a combined 40 percent prior to June 1, 2017. The Board finds that these conditions do not render the Veteran unemployable for substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities alone.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The appeal seeking a 10 percent rating based on multiple, noncompensable disabilities has been dismissed as moot due to the assignment of a 10 percent disability rating. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded.