Ankle decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of the left ankle disability and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's eczema is granted as service connected. The right and left ankle disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to inadequate pre-decisional duty to assist errors in the March 2020 VA opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disabilities and shell fragment wounds have worsened since their last VA examination in October 2017. The case is being remanded to schedule new examinations for assessing the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for current VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral knee and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran is granted TDIU based on all service-connected disabilities from December 19, 2016, to December 19, 2022, and TDIU based on the left hip orthopedic disability alone since December 20, 2022.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted on a schedular basis from September 25, 2017. The Board has also remanded the issue of TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to September 25, 2017.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left ankle, right ankle, heart, and neck disabilities due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset and persistence of his symptoms are considered.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for updated VA treatment records, VR&E records, and clarification of the Veteran's occupational history. The Veteran must also undergo VA examinations to determine the severity of his lumbar spine, cervical spine, and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right ankle ligament laxity, shoulder conditions, and other residuals, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to March 18, 2020. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits is also established.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle conditions as there is no current diagnosis of such conditions, and any reported symptoms do not rise to a level of functional impairment that affects earning capacity.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, arthritis of the right ankle and knee, hiatal hernia, muscle condition, skin condition, and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and a bilateral ankle disability, finding that the Veteran did not meet the diagnostic criteria for these conditions based on credible in-service stressors or incidents. The evidence showed no current disabilities attributable to active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left leg disorder other than left hip strain, left knee strain, and left ankle strain, as well as for a bilateral pelvic disorder. The Board found that there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the neck, shoulders, lower back, elbows, wrists, hands, knees, ankles, and feet is granted as her current diagnosis aligns with her symptoms during service.

The Veteran's left ankle, left knee, and right knee conditions have been rated at 10 percent each. The Veteran's right middle finger condition has also been rated at 10 percent.,All claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left ankle disability is denied. The claim for TDIU prior to March 9, 2019 is also denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examination for left ankle instability was inadequate and remanded to obtain a new examination. The Veteran's current symptoms and their severity need to be evaluated.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, tension headaches, and sinus headaches. The appeal for a left ankle disability and heart condition is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, right ankle disability, bilateral foot disabilities, and upper respiratory disability (to include bronchitis) due to lack of a current diagnosis or functional impairment. The case is remanded for further development.