Ankle decisions — 2023

The Board has granted a 10% disability rating for the left toe disorder, but remanded other service connection claims due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's left ankle strain and instability are each rated at 10 percent, with the latter granted separately.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depression, insomnia) is reopened.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 25, 2017 for the grant of service connection for left hip strain as secondary to his service-connected right ankle DJD. The case is remanded for further development regarding a rating in excess of 10 percent for right ankle DJD and entitlement to TDIU prior to June 4, 2018.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee and right ankle conditions are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the VA's duty to assist has not been satisfied and additional development is needed before the claims can be properly adjudicated. The Veteran's service connection claims for right ankle disability, left ankle disability, hypertension, and heart disability are being remanded due to outstanding records and incomplete compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's left hip and left ankle disabilities are related to service, including considering whether they may be due to an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right ankle disorder, and left knee disorder have been denied. The issues are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records, particularly those from basic training and Fort Sill.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle strain with degenerative joint disease effective May 12, 1998. The decision was based on the Veteran's report at a hearing that his ankles were weak due to his service-connected right foot hallux valgus.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted due to the PACT Act presumption. Claims for low back, neck, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his right ankle disability is denied as there was no pending claim prior to April 26, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, shortness of breath and asthma, a right knee condition, and a right ankle condition have been granted. The claim for service connection for obesity has been denied.

The Veteran's left ankle disability and surgical scar are currently rated at 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively. The Board has found that these ratings do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.,TDIU prior to June 4, 2013 is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran was unemployable due to her service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and bilateral foot disorder. The Veteran's claims for these conditions were not supported by medical evidence linking the disorders to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to establish that this condition began during or was related to his active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU. The issue of a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is remanded due to new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability did not have its onset during service and is not otherwise related to service. Therefore, service connection for a right ankle disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for low back disability and right ankle disability due to active service.

The Veteran's ankle disability is rated at 20 percent effective June 6, 2016. The Board found that the Veteran meets the criteria for a disability rating of 20 percent under the old rating criteria for Diagnostic Code 5271.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of right shoulder degenerative arthritis, thoracolumbar spine condition with sacroiliac weakness and disc disease, and left ankle sprain due to the Veteran's death.