Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining additional medical opinions and records. The Veteran's statements regarding in-service stressors will be considered during the examination process.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle, right knee, and left knee conditions are etiologically related to service.,Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection were granted, with the effective date set at November 21, 2019. The Board found that the Veteran had submitted an intent to file a claim on November 21, 2019, and filed his formal application in September 2020.

The Veteran's claim for a 50% disability rating for bilateral pes planus with metatarsalgia was granted effective February 9, 2020. The Board found that the earliest date as of which it is factually ascertainable that an increase in disability occurred was January 13, 2020.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, left knee osteoarthritis, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome due to new and relevant evidence submitted since previous rating decisions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left wrist sprain with de Quervain's syndrome and degenerative arthritis, as well as his left ankle traumatic arthritis. The decision on compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 50 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis is denied. The Board found that the disability has been rated at its maximum and no higher ratings are warranted. For his TDIU claim, the Veteran was granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an allowance for an automobile or other conveyance, and adaptive equipment was remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Board found that the AOJ did not consider whether his service-connected disabilities of the right lower extremities resulted in loss of use.

The Veteran's right foot hallux valgus and tinea pedis have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,Right ankle pain has been remanded, indicating that further evidence or clarification is needed.

The Veteran's unspecified bipolar disorder with depression began during active service and is now granted as a result of receiving new relevant evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, incontinence, and OSA is dismissed. Service connection for a back disability is granted with a 20% rating from August 23, 2019 to February 18, 2020.

The Veteran's dermatitis, OSA as secondary to PTSD, left ankle arthritis, and right ankle arthritis are all granted service connection.,The Board found that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that VA examinations are required to determine whether the Veteran's claimed disabilities are etiologically related to service. The claims for bilateral upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, C6 radiculopathy, knee disorders, and ankle disorders are being remanded.

The Board has found that there were pre-decisional duty to assist errors and remands the issues of service connection for various ankle, knee, foot, and back disabilities. The AOJ must provide new VA examinations and obtain adequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and active service.,The Veteran's right wrist tendon strain, right ankle tendonitis, and lumbar disability are remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate examination reports.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is remanded due to incomplete VA records not being obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 22, 2014.

The Veteran's service connection claims for GERD, lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, bilateral wrist disabilities (right and left), and right ankle disability have been granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically failing to provide VA examinations for the ankle disabilities and TBI.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to a procedural error in the original decision. The claims will be reconsidered with proper examinations.