Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal of the increased disability rating for pes planus is dismissed. The Board has remanded several issues related to migraines, bilateral knee and ankle disorders, eczema, and a psychiatric disorder due to service.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for initial disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for his left and right ankle disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on limited motion.

The Board has remanded the claims for a respiratory/lung disorder, right hip disability, left hip disability, and left ankle disability due to incomplete VA examinations and insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 40 percent prior to March 18, 2013 and from July 1, 2013 to February 1, 2021. From February 2, 2021 onwards, the rating remains at 40 percent. The Veteran's right ankle disability alone rendered him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment starting August 1, 2021, and he is now permanently and totally disabled.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine disorder, and the remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the claims for service connection of various conditions, including right ankle, cervical spine, right hip, head injuries (including headaches), acquired psychiatric disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease, bilateral pes planus, and Parkinson's disease. The VA will obtain relevant records from SSA and VA treatment providers and conduct new examinations to provide a clear determination on these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding medical records and additional evidence. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records, consider all added evidence on remand, and provide examinations to determine if his right knee disability is related to service or service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, as well as whether any lower extremity disabilities are related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a right ankle disability, as secondary to a service-connected condition due to an inadequate October 2022 VA examination. The Veteran's attorney and representative have requested a new VA medical opinion regarding her reported falls and antalgic gait.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is granted a 20% rating, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to locate the Veteran's missing service treatment records, which are crucial for determining whether his low back condition and bilateral foot/ankle conditions were incurred in or caused by his military service. The AOJ must make a final attempt to obtain these records.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, is granted as service connected. The Board also found that the Veteran's sleep apnea (OSA), headache condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, right ankle condition, right shoulder condition, and lumbar spine condition are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional medical opinions and records. The Veteran's conditions include PTSD, a painful irritable eye condition, sleep disturbance with mild apnea, headaches, left knee pain, right knee pain, neck pain, numbness and light headedness, right ankle pain, right hip disability, stomach issues (GERD and gastroparesis), degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and hearing loss. The claims are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria and aid and attendance is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding his physical limitations.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was submitted since the April 2020 Statement of the Case and has not been waived by the Veteran. The claims for service connection are being remanded to allow the AOJ to consider this new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left ankle disorder. The examiner is asked to review all pertinent documents and provide a new opinion on whether the Veteran's current left ankle symptoms are related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with no evidence of increased severity.,Service connection for chronic bronchitis has been granted based on presumed exposure to burn pits and other toxins (BPOT).,Service connection for restrictive lung disease/restrictive spirometry pattern was denied due to lack of a clear etiology related to service.,Service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by right wrist pain is granted, with the condition being presumed based on BPOT exposure.,Service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by right ankle pain is granted, with the condition also presumed based on BPOT exposure.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine and hemorrhoid disabilities due to new evidence submitted since the last denial. The claims are now pending on their merits.,Service connection for a chronic sinus disability is denied as there is no probative medical evidence indicating the Veteran has a current sinus disability that was incurred in service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection of left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, bilateral pes planus, and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left ankle disability due to incomplete records and inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to a lack of complete medical nexus opinions addressing secondary service connection. The VA examiner is asked to provide updated opinions on whether his right and left ankle disabilities are at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability and/or left knee disabilities.