Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as there are concerns about a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding the adequacy of previous medical opinions and consideration of in-service treatment.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle disability and TMJ with bruxism, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims of service connection for migraine headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and major depressive disorder) are remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete STRs and the need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for left wrist, right wrist, left ankle, right ankle, left elbow, right elbow, left hip, and right hip conditions. The Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to establish a current disability or link these conditions to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's ankle surgeries and degenerative arthritis have been granted temporary total disability ratings, a 20% evaluation for residuals of the surgeries, and denied higher evaluations for his degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to October 28, 2022 is remanded due to the need for additional development and referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has denied service connection for a right ankle condition, left ankle condition, low back or lumbar spine condition, and residuals of an upper left facial fracture with headaches and vertigo. Service connection was granted for bilateral ear condition (to include hearing loss).,Service connection was not established for any of the conditions listed due to lack of evidence linking them to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for SOB, headaches disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and left ankle and left knee disorders due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bronchitis residuals, hearing loss, low back disability, and right ankle disability have been granted. The VA has ordered additional development for the hearing loss claim due to potential burn pit exposure, and the low back and right ankle disabilities require further examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed. The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and anal fistulotomy, both rated at 100%.

The appeal for service connection of allergies, right and left ankle disabilities, PTSD, asthma, hypertensive heart disease, and coronary artery disease (CAD) has been dismissed. The effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD remains September 1, 2013.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,An effective date of November 12, 1981, but no earlier, for the award of service connection for scar, status post ligament transfer left ankle sprain is granted. However, a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's left ankle disability remains pending and requires further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling examinations. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection or increased ratings for various conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of sufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his bilateral foot condition, right ankle condition, and left ankle condition. The VA is required to provide an examination that discusses all diagnoses of the Veteran's feet and ankles.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus, previously claimed as bilateral foot condition, is being reopened and granted. However, the claims for both pes planus and bilateral ankle conditions are still pending and need to be remanded for further examination and development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to his shoulders, elbows, hands, ankles, and back are remanded due to confusion regarding the procedural posture of the case and clarification needed on whether any issues had previously been adjudicated. The Board also notes that updated VA treatment records should be obtained and an examination conducted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ankle and low back disabilities, as well as his sciatic nerve radiculopathies. The remand includes obtaining new medical opinions regarding the level of functional impairment due to instability and flare-ups, and obtaining additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent from October 29, 2014 to October 17, 2023 and at 30 percent thereafter. The claim for TDIU is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for gout and right ankle arthritis, but denied the claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.