Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examination opinions and the need for additional service treatment records. The Veteran's left ankle disability is being reviewed again with a new opinion.

Service connection for a sinus disability, including chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, is granted.,Service connection for right ankle disability is denied. The Veteran's right ankle disability is not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on several service-connected conditions are remanded due to the need for new evaluations and assessments.

The Veteran's appeal to increase the rating for his left ankle disability was dismissed because he withdrew it prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to April 26, 2019. However, due to evidence suggesting he may be unemployable, the case is being remanded for further review by the Director of Compensation Service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected lumbar strain, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, right ankle strain, and left ankle strain have been denied. The evidence does not support a higher rating in any of these cases.,The Veteran's lumbar strain is currently rated at 20 percent disabling based on forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 60 degrees but not greater than 85 degrees and combined range of motion of at least 120 degrees. The evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent disabling based on painful motion with full extension to at least 65 degrees, including during flare-ups and after repetitive use over time. The evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent disabling based on painful motion with full extension to at least 80 degrees, including during flare-ups and after repetitive use over time. The evidence does not support a higher rating.,On or after July 14, 2016, the Veteran's right ankle strain is currently rated at 10 percent disabling based on painful motion with dorsiflexion to at least 9 degrees and plantar flexion to at least 20 degrees. The evidence does not support a higher rating.,On or after July 14, 2016, the Veteran's left ankle strain is currently rated at 10 percent disabling based on painful motion with dorsiflexion to at least 9 degrees and plantar flexion to at least 20 degrees. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development of her claims, including those related to her right ankle disability, major depressive disorder, and TDIU.

The Veteran's right and left ankle conditions, as well as his neck condition, are pending further examination and evaluation. The appeal is remanded to determine their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) because there is not sufficient evidence to substantiate that he is unemployable due to his left ankle disability.

The Veteran's claim for OSA was granted with an effective date of October 31, 2013. The rating for the right-hand little finger injury remains noncompensable. The claims for eczema and low back strain are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right ankle disabilities, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current disabilities and his active service.

The Board has granted a TDIU for the period from September 7, 2007 to September 8, 2008. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and sustain substantially gainful employment during this period.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted from April 30, 2014 to April 8, 2020. The other issues are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since February 2, 2007. The Board finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether he was precluded by his service-connected disabilities from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment in occupations related to his education, training, and work experience.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability, tinnitus, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability have been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (RLE) and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (LLE), as well as his claims for gastritis secondary to medications taken for service-connected disabilities, are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities, particularly those related to Reserve service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected right hip and/or left knee disabilities.,From July 1, 2020, the Veteran's left knee disability (status-post total replacement) is rated at 30 percent. From July 21, 2017 to May 12, 2019, he was granted a 20 percent rating for limitation of flexion and another 20 percent rating for limitation of extension.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from October 19, 2020 is dismissed as moot because he has been awarded a combined 100 percent rating. The appeal of the extraschedular TDIU claim prior to October 19, 2020 is remanded for further consideration.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.,Specifically, the Veteran needs a new examination to assess the current severity of his knee and shoulder disabilities, as well as his left knee scar. Additionally, he needs an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his left ankle disorder and bilateral wrist pain.