Ankle decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to October 28, 2022 is remanded due to the need for additional development and referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has denied service connection for a right ankle condition, left ankle condition, low back or lumbar spine condition, and residuals of an upper left facial fracture with headaches and vertigo. Service connection was granted for bilateral ear condition (to include hearing loss).,Service connection was not established for any of the conditions listed due to lack of evidence linking them to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for SOB, headaches disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and left ankle and left knee disorders due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bronchitis residuals, hearing loss, low back disability, and right ankle disability have been granted. The VA has ordered additional development for the hearing loss claim due to potential burn pit exposure, and the low back and right ankle disabilities require further examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed. The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and anal fistulotomy, both rated at 100%.

The appeal for service connection of allergies, right and left ankle disabilities, PTSD, asthma, hypertensive heart disease, and coronary artery disease (CAD) has been dismissed. The effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD remains September 1, 2013.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,An effective date of November 12, 1981, but no earlier, for the award of service connection for scar, status post ligament transfer left ankle sprain is granted. However, a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's left ankle disability remains pending and requires further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling examinations. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection or increased ratings for various conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of sufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his bilateral foot condition, right ankle condition, and left ankle condition. The VA is required to provide an examination that discusses all diagnoses of the Veteran's feet and ankles.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus, previously claimed as bilateral foot condition, is being reopened and granted. However, the claims for both pes planus and bilateral ankle conditions are still pending and need to be remanded for further examination and development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to his shoulders, elbows, hands, ankles, and back are remanded due to confusion regarding the procedural posture of the case and clarification needed on whether any issues had previously been adjudicated. The Board also notes that updated VA treatment records should be obtained and an examination conducted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ankle and low back disabilities, as well as his sciatic nerve radiculopathies. The remand includes obtaining new medical opinions regarding the level of functional impairment due to instability and flare-ups, and obtaining additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent from October 29, 2014 to October 17, 2023 and at 30 percent thereafter. The claim for TDIU is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for gout and right ankle arthritis, but denied the claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided that entitlement to an annual clothing allowance for the year of 2015 due to the use of a right knee brace is granted. However, the claim for a left lower extremity brace remains unclear and requires further action.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, left shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, and left ankle disability due to incomplete records. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to obtain all relevant service treatment and personnel records from the Veteran's active duty service and Army National Guard/Army Reserve.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a respiratory condition (chronic bronchitis/COPD) was granted. The claim for service connection for headaches is pending.

The Veteran's right ankle disability and colon cancer have been granted service connection.,The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to February 13, 2022 remains in appellate status.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder traumatic arthritis, right wrist traumatic arthritis, and right ankle traumatic arthritis. The decision finds that the Veteran's depressive disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left knee, and left ankle.