Ankle decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding whether the Veteran currently has a right ankle condition. The matter is further remanded for additional examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded two issues: one regarding the rating for a right ankle disability and another for varicose veins secondary to that disability. The AOJ needs to re-issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) with all relevant information.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, rotator cuff tendonitis of the right shoulder, painful surgical scars of the right lower extremity, residual scar of the right lower extremity, right ankle status post-surgery, circadian rhythm sleep disorder, and right inguinal hernia. The issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete records and missed examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle and right wrist disorders due to outstanding VA treatment records. Additional medical opinions are needed regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's left foot, left ankle, right ankle, and lumbar disabilities have been granted service connection.,A 30 percent rating has been granted for arthritis of the right foot.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, muscle spasms and joint pain (to include knee pain), bilateral upper extremities, or right ankle/foot disabilities. The medical opinions provided by VA have consistently concluded that these conditions are not related to service.,reasoning_summary_1_sentence_on_deciding_factor_for_issues_granted_or_denied_directly_based_on_service_connection_theory_and_exposure_basis_combined_with_medical_opinions,0.5

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus, left and right ankle sprains, tinnitus, left knee degenerative arthritis, painful scars of the ankles, and right knee degenerative arthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. As a result, he is granted total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for periodontal disease for treatment purposes is not properly adjudicated and must be remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist condition, including arthritis, secondary to his right ankle disability, is also not properly adjudicated and must be remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical spine, low back, bilateral foot (plantar fasciitis), bilateral ankle (sprain and tendonitis), and bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran's lay statements regarding her symptoms and their timeline are considered in reaching a decision.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disability, right ankle disability, and right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the disabilities and active service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and examination due to missing service medical records, conflicting evidence regarding qualifying Southwest Asia service, and incomplete information about the nature of his conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 8, 2013. Therefore, the claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle strain and right knee strain due to inadequate VA examinations, failure to follow proper claims processing rules, and need for a new examination.

The Veteran's right ankle disorder was granted an initial 20 percent rating from August 24, 2004 to April 12, 2007.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been withdrawn, and the appeal as to these issues is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left ankle disability has been denied. The current 20 percent rating is considered the highest available under the applicable diagnostic codes, and there are no indications of ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's right ankle scar and DJD were evaluated, with the scar rated at 0 percent and the DJD rated at 10 percent. The Board denied a higher rating for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left foot condition, right foot condition, left ankle condition, and right ankle condition due to new evidence of worsening symptoms. The Veteran's claim for residuals of left testicular surgery is also being remanded.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric condition (major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder) due to outstanding private treatment records and unverified in-service stressor. The Veteran's claim for residuals of left testicular surgery is also being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chest pain (claimed as chest pain and hypertension) and tendonitis of the right hip, bilateral ankles, right wrist, and thumbs. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.