Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his claimed bilateral shoulder, ankle, and foot disorders. The Board will consider these issues again after receiving updated opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder and right ankle disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The claim for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment for which he would otherwise be qualified.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, nephritis with nephrolithiasis, tinnitus, tendonitis of the right and left ankles, and hemorrhoids, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left ankle disabilities due to a lack of medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to service-connected disabilities or if they were caused by service-connected disabilities. The AOJ is also directed to refer the issue of increased evaluations on an extra-schedular basis for service-connected impotence and headaches for consideration.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for eczema was granted, but his claims for service connection of a left ankle disability and TDIU were denied.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at the highest available rating for limitation of motion. The appeal is denied as there are no alternative diagnostic codes applicable and the current schedular evaluation adequately describes his disability level.

The Veteran claims service connection for his current right foot and ankle degenerative joint disease, which he asserts was caused by an injury during active duty in 1983. The VA examiner opined that the arthritis is at least as likely as not caused by or a result of this injury. However, the periods of ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA are unverified.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for his service-connected right femur fracture and left ankle fractures are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations, the need for additional development of records, and the requirement for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU benefits are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the criteria for TDIU have not been met.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hallux valgus and right ankle conditions did not exist prior to service, but were not aggravated by service.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hallux valgus with bunions and residuals of a right ankle sprain have been denied as they are not established.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Army Reserve service dates and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims of right knee disability, left ankle disability, and hysterectomy are being reviewed.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal, thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, surgical scars, and right knee condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left foot disabilities, which were noted at entrance into active service, underwent a permanent worsening beyond normal progression during service. Therefore, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and conducting VA examinations to assess the Veteran's disabilities. The issues of increased ratings for lumbar degenerative disc disease remain on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development on issues including service connection for a low back disability, increased ratings for knee and ankle disabilities, and psychiatric disability. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss, osteoarthritis of the ankles or knees, hypertension, or gastritis for VA benefits purposes. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address the etiology of the Veteran's ankle disabilities.