Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral foot and ankle disabilities, as well as evaluations for degenerative arthritis of the right knee. The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of the service-connected right ankle fracture and determine if there are any flares that significantly limit function. The TDIU issue is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, left ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, sinus disability, and gastrointestinal disorder.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a blood problem was granted. The Board remanded the cases for left ankle, right ankle, multiple sclerosis, eye disorder, bladder disorder, spine disorder, and chronic right ankle sprain claims.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for his service-connected left ankle disability is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination. A new examination is needed that includes joint testing for pain on both active and passive motion, in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing (as appropriate), and with comparison to an undamaged joint.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and requests for additional evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various spinal, nerve, joint, and psychiatric disabilities have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal of these issues. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded due to new evidence.

The Veteran's left ankle sprain has been rated at 10 percent since May 2, 2010. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating as there was no more than moderate limitation of motion.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for right shoulder strain, right knee musculoligamentous strain with limited extension, and right ankle sprain from April 16, 2015 has been denied.,A uniform 10 percent rating is appropriate for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's lumbar spine and right ankle disabilities were granted increased ratings, while the headache disability was denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability and secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction. The right ankle disability is related to an in-service injury, while the erectile dysfunction is linked to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for service connection and rating for various disabilities. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are being examined again due to the lack of recent VA treatment records and inadequate examination in 2011. A new peripheral vestibular disorder (vertigo) claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for his left ankle disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show ankylosis with more than 10 degrees of dorsiflexion or abduction, adduction, inversion, or eversion deformity. The Veteran also appealed for SMC based on loss of use of the left foot prior to May 24, 2015, which was denied. He was granted a noncompensable rating for his left ankle scar.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right ankle disability and granted it, finding that there is sufficient evidence to connect the current condition to his in-service injury.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left ankle strains. However, the claims of entitlement to increased initial disability evaluations for various conditions are still pending and need further examination and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left hip disability (secondary to service-connected disabilities), lumbar spine strain, and left ankle sprain due to additional development being required.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the claims of service-connected rhinitis, hemorrhoids, migraine headaches, and right ankle posterior tibial tendonitis due to inadequate examinations in May 2014. The Veteran will need new VA examinations to determine the current level of severity of all impairment resulting from these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for shoulder, back, bilateral knee, and right ankle disabilities as there were no current diagnoses of these conditions at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is being remanded for further evaluation and development due to a recent hearing testimony indicating worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's left ATCS is granted a rating of 20 percent, effective from June 11, 2018.,A separate 20 percent rating for disability of the left internal tibial nerve is granted, effective from December 27, 2017.