Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various foot, ankle, knee, and hip disorders due to inadequate VA medical opinions in the January 2023 decision. The Veteran's current disabilities are being reviewed again with new medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate evaluations by VRCs, and a new evaluation is needed to determine if the Veteran has an employment handicap or serious employment handicap.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, rated at 10 percent prior to November 19, 2019, is characterized by moderate limitation of range of motion. The Board finds the evidence does not support a finding that his condition was marked or more severe than what was described in the July 2015 VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, right and left knee disabilities, left foot disability, headaches secondary to PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of upper extremities, herpes, cervical spine disability (secondary to PTSD), right and left hip pain, and hypertension. The only condition granted was an acquired psychiatric condition (PTSD, depression, anxiety and other stressor related disorder).

The appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for a lower back condition is dismissed. The issues of entitlement to service connection for any right lower extremity disability and a right elbow injury are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability as secondary to service-connected rib disability and granted a 20 percent rating for left ankle disability, excluding periods of temporary total ratings.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at a maximum of 20 percent, effective August 15, 2015. The appeal for TDIU remains pending and requires further development due to conflicting employment information.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle strain, left ankle strain, right knee disability, and left knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral feet arthrosis with plantar fasciitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, right knee, left knee, and ankle disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right ankle degenerative joint diseases, as well as his bilateral pes planus with history of right ankle sprain and posterior tibial tendonitis. The VA is required to obtain any outstanding medical records from VA facilities in Durham and Clayton, North Carolina, and from private providers identified by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right ankle disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain new VA opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left ankle, right ankle, left foot, and right foot disabilities due to incomplete records. The thoracolumbar disability claim is denied as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that it was aggravated during service.

The Veteran's service-connected MDD is granted, and his back disability remains at a 20 percent rating. The left ankle posttraumatic synovitis continues to be rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and for an initial compensable rating for fibroadenoma, right breast. The evidence did not support finding that the current disabilities had their onset during active service or were related to in-service events.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right ankle, knee, and hip conditions as secondary to a service-connected right heel injury. The Veteran's treating physician suggested that his current right ankle, knee, and hip conditions may be aggravated by his service-connected right heel injury.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of multiple conditions, including psychiatric disorders and hearing loss. The Board dismissed the appeals as a result.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle sprain is related to her in-service injury and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues related to service connection and evaluation of various conditions, including liver dysfunction, right hip condition, bilateral lower extremities, first degree AV block, patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative arthritis, status post right ankle fibula fracture, migraine headaches, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, left knee osteoarthritis, and hypertension.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to readjudicate his claim for service connection for a right knee disability, as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. The case is now remanded for further examination and opinion regarding whether the right knee disability was caused or aggravated by the right ankle disability.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, and left thumb tendonitis are all denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, persistent depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder), a right knee disability, a left wrist disability, and chronic headaches is remanded due to insufficient evidence.