Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating and earlier effective date for left ankle CRPS is granted. The effective date is set at November 10, 2020, and a 30% disability rating is assigned.

The Veteran's emergency medical care at Hampshire Memorial Hospital on October 17, 2022 is eligible for payment under VA regulations due to the favorable findings in a previous authorization. The Veteran's other health insurance (Medicare A) did not fully cover the costs.

The Veteran's left ankle tendonitis with osteoarthritis, GERD, and eczema have been granted increased ratings. The left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, the GERD at 30 percent, and the eczema remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error for not obtaining a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's right ankle condition and traumatic brain injury. The case is therefore REMANDED for further action.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for low back disability, left shoulder disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to insufficient evidence or procedural deficiencies.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle condition, finding that his ongoing pain is directly related to an injury sustained during military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his left ankle disability, finding that it had its onset during service and is related to a motorcycle accident in service.

The Board denied service connection for right and left ankle disabilities as the evidence did not establish a direct or secondary relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims due to a failure to provide a new VA examination and medical opinion in light of the Veteran's complaints of functional impairment, as per Saunders v. Wilkie (2018).

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to May 30, 2018 is being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if she is unemployable due to her service-connected disabilities. The AOJ must refer the case to the Director of Compensation Services for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for a groin condition, left hip condition, left foot condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, and back condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's anxiety is found to be related to her military service.,There is no current evidence of a chronic headache disability for VA compensation purposes.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic pain in the left foot, right foot, or right ankle.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic pain in the right ankle.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left shoulder, right ankle, and bilateral knee conditions are being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board will obtain examinations and opinions to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate reasons or bases in the previous decision.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right ankle condition, testicular cancer, diabetes, and left ear hearing loss due to insufficient information in the VA examination report. The claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss remains denied as it does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include variously claimed ankle, hip, shoulder, and low back disabilities.

The Veteran's left ankle and hip disabilities are granted as secondary to his service-connected right quadriceps tear.,A rating in excess of 40 percent for the residuals, tear of right quadriceps is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of various rheumatoid arthritis conditions, finding that no formal claim was submitted within one year of her intent to file and that she did not submit a completed VA Form 21-526EZ as required.

The Board has denied service connection for right hip dysplasia, left hip dysplasia, right knee condition, left knee condition, right ankle condition, left ankle condition, respiratory disability, and left eye disability. The Veteran did not have any of these conditions during the appeal period or approximate thereto.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his service-connected left knee replacement, and a new examination is needed to determine if it was caused or aggravated by this condition. The Veteran's evaluation for status post total left knee replacement needs to be reassessed due to inadequate previous examination.