Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability and kidney stones with small renal cysts of the left kidney is denied. The TDIU claim is granted from August 2, 2022 to November 16, 2022.

The Board has denied service connection for neck, back, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to insufficient reasons or bases in the previous decision. The VA examiner did not adequately address the Veteran's lay statements about his symptoms during service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, left hip arthritis, and right hip arthritis have been granted service connection. The left ankle strain has also been granted as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.,Service connection for these conditions is established based on direct evidence of their occurrence during military service.

The Board has been unable to locate a military medical separation examination in the claims file and is therefore remanding the appeal for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Veteran's left ankle clonus disability rating was improperly reduced from 60% to 10%, and the rating is restored to 60%. The reduction was found to be improper due to insufficient notice provided by VA.

The Veteran's claims for compensation due to a jaw disability, and ratings greater than 10 percent for left and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprains have been denied. The Board found no additional disability resulting from VA treatment.

The Board denied service connection for right and left eye disabilities, cervical spine disability, and right ankle disability as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during or were otherwise related to active service.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain, bilateral knee instability and meniscal condition, and low back disability are all granted. The right ankle sprain is granted with service connection established. Increased ratings for the knees and a lower rating for the low back prior to August 17, 2022 are also granted.

The Veteran's residuals of right ankle fracture were granted a rating of 20 percent from May 3, 2011, to May 26, 2016, and April 1, 2017, to October 27, 2019. The appeal is denied for the period from October 28, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and TDIU prior to January 8, 2020 are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The Board will consider whether extraschedular consideration is warranted for the right ankle condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding bilateral athlete's foot and consideration of newly submitted evidence. The issues of service connection for various conditions remain on appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and disabilities have been dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and higher initial evaluations were dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal should be addressed under the Legacy system and accepts his VA Form 10182 as a timely Notice of Disagreement. The AOJ must now send an SOC addressing the issues on appeal, including service connection for lower back injury, left ankle injury, cervical spine injury, and head injury with concussion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left ankle sprains due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his in-service injuries, as per a VA opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a left ankle disability due to insufficient compliance with previous instructions and the need for further development, including obtaining an addendum VA opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected right and left knee, shin splints, and ankle strain residuals. The issues include rating adjustments and TDIU prior to July 6, 2017.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent from January 29, 2020.,A compensable rating of 10 percent for painful, right foot scars was granted prior to September 6, 2017. A higher rating of 20 percent has been granted since September 6, 2017.