Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases due to an unresolved issue regarding whether there is new and material evidence to reopen claims of service connection for left knee disorder, low back disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder. The cases will be returned to the RO for further consideration.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her left ankle disability is denied as the evidence does not show ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. Service connection is also granted for back, right ankle, eye, sinus, and COPD disabilities. However, rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of colon cancer remains remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disorder and granted a 10% rating for psoriasis since October 22, 2014. The denial was based on the lack of current disability for the left ankle disorder and insufficient evidence to support an increased rating for psoriasis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip disability and migraine headaches due to a lack of evidence of current disabilities. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The appeals regarding effective dates prior to October 30, 2006 for granting of service connection for right ankle sprain and postoperative scar of the right ankle have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral pes planus, must be remanded due to a lack of proper readjudication following previous remand orders. The Veteran's claims are related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for her service-connected cervical spine, left hip, and right ankle conditions due to the passage of time since the last examinations. The VA is required to provide additional examinations to assess the current severity of these disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for evaluations in excess of 20 percent for his left and right ankle disabilities, finding no evidence of ankylosis or loss of use of his feet due to these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and left ankle disability due to new evidence. However, further development is needed as VA examinations are required to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded all issues on appeal due to the need for additional VA examinations and records, including private treatment records from various hospitals and SSA disability benefits records. The Veteran's claims include service connection for heart disorders, stroke residuals, bilateral lower extremity disorders, and other conditions.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has remanded to determine if a higher rating is warranted. The appeal also includes whether the reduction in his total rating for convalescence was proper.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left ankle disability, headache condition, and PTSD. The decision also noted that additional issues related to these conditions were remanded.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has been rated at 20 percent prior to May 9, 2016 and is now being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting an initial disability rating of 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for unspecified metabolic syndrome, right ankle synovitis, hypertension, hypogonadism, and scars of the epigastric and sternum have been dismissed. The Veteran also had his appeal for a TBI raised but not addressed by the AOJ.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus, type II, as well as a compensable rating for his residual scar. The evidence did not support an in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his left shoulder and right ankle disabilities has been denied. The Board found that the current 20% ratings are appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as additional medical opinions regarding her claimed right foot, left foot, bilateral ankle, bilateral knee, bilateral hip, low back, joint pain, eye, and psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated evaluations of his service-connected left ankle Charcot foot, diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The VA will request any additional medical records from 2010 onwards and schedule examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.