Ankle Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether service-connected disabilities caused obesity or aggravated it, and if obesity was a substantial factor in causing OSA.

The Veteran's disability severance pay for his left ankle condition was legally required to be recouped from his VA disability compensation due to the nature of the separation and the applicable laws.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a left ankle disability and an increased rating for his thoracolumbar spine disability, finding that there was no current evidence of these conditions during or close to the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left ankle disability, increased rating for PTSD, and readjudication of ED. The appellant's PTSD symptoms result in deficiencies in most areas needed for a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for left ankle pain was granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for this condition.,Service connection has also been granted for bilateral pes planus. The Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus was aggravated by his active-duty service.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction (secondary to PTSD) and sleep disorder (secondary to PTSD) have both been granted, with the latter being at least in equipoise as to causation.,The Veteran is now entitled to service connection for a left ankle condition, bilateral pes planus, erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD, and a sleep disorder secondary to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle and left wrist disabilities due to incomplete records and the need for a medical opinion on aggravation.

The Board has found duty to assist errors and has remanded the case for further action, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a medical examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU are remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right ankle disability is remanded due to inadequate pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. A new VA examination is required to address the severity of the Veteran's condition from March 20, 2019, to April 22, 2020.

The Veteran withdrew all his claims on appeal, including those for increased ratings and service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and a skin disability, including psoriasis. The evidence did not support current diagnoses or functional impairment.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, hypertension associated with herbicide agent exposure, bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis, and vasectomy scar residuals have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, prostate disability, skin disabilities, right ankle disability, esophageal disability, hemorrhoids, and left eye disability are being remanded.,The Veteran's claims for recurrent lumbar spine disability (including degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis), recurrent right knee disability (including osteoarthritis), recurrent prostate disability (including benign prostate hyperplasia), recurrent skin disability (including tinea versicolor, tinea corporis, tinea cruris, and eczema), recurrent right ankle disability (including cellulitis), recurrent esophageal disability (GERD), hemorrhoids, and acquired left eye disability (including corneal abrasion and cataract) are being remanded.

The Veteran's current bilateral tinnitus and hearing loss disabilities are granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure. The left ankle condition is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as none of his service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and there is no evidence that they render him unemployable.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability and secondary service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability, finding no competent medical evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for upper back disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and disabilities manifesting in both arms due to a lack of current disabilities related to service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Board found that an effective date earlier than November 30, 2010, for service connection of left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and left ankle degenerative arthritis with tendonitis is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability, based on evidence showing an antalgic gait pattern and direct relationship between the disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left ankle disability due to insufficient evidence and failure to obtain medical nexus opinions addressing the etiology of his current condition.