Ankle decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to failure of the Veteran to report for VA examinations and lack of compliance with remand directives. The issues include right ankle, left ankle, migraine headaches, and right shoulder disabilities.

The Board has determined that the January 2019 VA examinations are inadequate and remanded for further clarification of the Veteran's current disabilities. The claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, dermatophytosis of the right foot, and headache condition are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, skin disability (tinea manuum), and right ankle disability due to new evidence and testimony.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and the need to account for the Veteran's reports of onset and continuity of symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, left ankle disability, left arm disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability as secondary to his right ankle disability. The decision found that there was no evidence of a service-connected disability or an in-service aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left ankle disability. The case is being remanded to determine the nature and etiology of any left knee disability.

The Board has found that the RO substantially complied with the January 2023 Board remand directives. The Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disabilities, low back disability, and left ankle disability are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot and hip disabilities due to incomplete service treatment records from his second period of active duty. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the skin condition on the feet is inadequate, and a new medical examination is needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee patellar instability and other orthopedic conditions, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim based on these service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases due to non-compliance with previous instructions and additional development is required.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability, bilateral shin splints, right knee and left knee disabilities, right hip disability, right shoulder disability, heart disorder (claimed as a heart murmur), and gastrointestinal disorder.,The Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations scheduled in 2022 and 2023 was noted. The Board found that the Veteran failed without good cause to comply with the remand instructions.

The Veteran's right ankle disability and thyroid nodules (endocrine condition) claims are remanded for additional development. The left knee and lumbar disability secondary to service-connected conditions also need further examination and opinion.,The Veteran needs a new VA examination for her right ankle disability, as the previous examinations did not address functional loss during flare-ups or with repetitive use over time. She also requires a new VA endocrine examination to determine if she has an endocrine condition related to service. The left knee and lumbar disability claims need further evaluation by different examiners.

The Veteran's right ankle disability manifested as limitation of dorsiflexion to 5 degrees during flare-ups, with pain on motion. The Board found that the Veteran's range of motion was limited to less than 15 degrees of dorsiflexion or less than 30 degrees of plantar flexion, resulting in a finding that a higher rating of 20 percent disabling is not warranted.

The appeal as to service connection for sleep disturbance and anxiety disorder is dismissed.,The appeals as to the remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for various wrist, ankle, shoulder, and knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations conducted in January 2020.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions, as well as their relationship to his service-connected right knee, right hip, and right ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded.,Service connection claims for gout of the left wrist and right wrist are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral foot disorder, right shoulder disorder, unspecified circulation disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral ankle disorders due to incomplete evidence in the record.

The Board has denied service connection for left ankle disability, right ankle disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and bilateral pes planus as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney stones, finding that an addendum opinion is needed to address whether his kidney stones are proximately due or the result of his service-connected disabilities. The issues include determining if the Veteran's kidney stones have been aggravated by his service-connected conditions.