Ankle decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to obtain updated VA treatment records. The claims for higher ratings for various service-connected disabilities are currently pending.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left foot disability, but has remanded his claim for service connection of his left ankle disability.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions obtained and associated with the claims file are inadequate for purposes of determining service connections. The Veteran's cervical spine, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities have been remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the need to obtain relevant records from SSA and conduct VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, left-hand disability, right-hand disability, left ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability due to incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain these records.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder, left shoulder, back, right ankle, left ankle, left foot and toes, right foot and toes, right knee, or left knee disabilities.,The evidence does not establish a nexus between any diagnosed condition and active service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is found to be related to active service, and the claim for service connection for this condition is granted. The issues of secondary service connection for other conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of his service-connected right ankle condition is denied. The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), as it pertains to herbicide exposure and secondary to PTSD.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) and Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) with face arthrosis, lumbar spine; residuals of vasectomy; right ankle disability; left ankle disability; and residuals of tailbone injury.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities are granted as service-connected, while his right and left knee disabilities and deviated septum are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to inadequate compliance with previous directives. The appeal will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has decided that service connection for hip disability is granted, but the right ankle and muscle weakness claims are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals regarding the service connection and rating for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right ankle disability, right knee disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee has been granted. The claim for a higher rating for his left ankle disability is denied, and the claim for service connection for his skin disability is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right ankle disorders, as well as metatarsalgia. The claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder are also remanded.,Service connection is not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions due to lack of current diagnoses in the medical records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted at a 10 percent rating effective January 11, 2020. The left ankle disability and cervical spine condition are both remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's left ankle condition is rated at 20 percent, the maximum available rating. The Board also granted a TDIU prior to August 10, 2022 and dismissed it thereafter.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran to undergo VA examinations to address his claims of service connection for TBI, increased ratings for left ankle and shoulder disabilities. The current evidence does not provide sufficient information to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, headaches, gastrointestinal disorder, erectile dysfunction, low back disorder, and right ankle disorder. The additional medical evidence must be reviewed by the AOJ.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder, as there are no current medical opinions on record regarding this issue.