Ankle Board decisions

The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error for the claims of service connection for various lower extremity disorders. The Veteran's STRs are unavailable, and he has reported in-service injuries. A new VA examination is needed to determine if any current diagnoses exist and whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for respiratory condition, left foot disorder, right foot disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder have been denied as there is no current evidence of a disability or functional impairment affecting earning capacity.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and right index finger PIP joint conditions are both denied increased ratings, but the left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy claim for an increased rating and TDIU claim are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for muscle spasms and pain in upper back, muscle spasms and pain in neck, right knee strain with popping and pain (also claimed with right knee scar tissue), left knee strain with popping and pain, left ankle strain with popping and pain, and right ankle strain with popping and pain due to insufficient evidence to resolve the Veteran's claims.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle condition and left ear hearing loss, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to the current conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a new opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right ankle condition. The appeal seeking service connection for this condition is now pending.

The Veteran's left ankle DJD is granted a 20% evaluation, but his lumbar spine DJD and TBI are both remanded for further review.

The petition to readjudicate the claim for service connection for back strain (claimed as lower and upper back condition) is granted.,The petition to readjudicate the claim for service connection for left ankle strain remains denied because the evidence submitted is not new and relevant.,The petition to readjudicate the claim for service connection for right ankle strain is granted.,The petition to readjudicate the claim for service connection for hair loss is denied.,The petition to readjudicate the claim for service connection for headaches is granted.,The petition to readjudicate the claim for service connection for neck strain is granted.,The petition to readjudicate the claim for service connection for left shoulder strain is denied because the evidence submitted is not new and relevant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of right and left ankle conditions, as well as right and left knee conditions, are remanded due to inadequate examination opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic renal disease, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee osteoarthritis and the medication prescribed for those disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of calcaneus right ankle fracture. The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of a left ankle disability, and his right ankle fracture was rated at 10 percent based on moderate limitation of motion.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to errors in the Appeals Modernization Act system. The Board has remanded several issues for further action.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, but the Board has decided to remand the case for further research into potential herbicide exposure during his naval service.

The Veteran's left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with degenerative arthritis is rated at 20 percent, effective May 14, 2013.

The appeals concerning various disabilities and benefits have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for chronic groin injury, right ankle pain, left ankle pain, psychiatric disability (adjustment disorder and depressive disorder), and allergic rhinitis due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding causality.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to a duty to assist error involving private medical records and workers' compensation records. The AOJ must attempt to obtain these records before considering the merits of the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not substantially contribute to his employment handicap, and he was found employable with his current skills, experience, and education. The Board denied the Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits as he does not have an employment handicap.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment from September 7, 2018, to July 20, 2021. Effective September 7, 2018, the Veteran is granted Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and service connection claims have been dismissed due to his death.