Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hip disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and bilateral foot disorder are reopened. Service connection is granted for PTSD but denied for a heart disorder. The issues regarding the relationship between service-connected knee disability and the Veteran's lumbar spine, bilateral hip, bilateral ankle, and bilateral foot disorders are remanded.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 30, 2016 for a TDIU based on the schedular criteria. The claim for TDIU prior to June 30, 2016 is remanded due to lack of schedular criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back, wrist, knee, ankle and elbow disorders due to insufficient medical opinions. The inflammatory arthritis claim is also remanded as it involves potential exposure in Southwest Asia.

The Board has vacated its May 2023 decision due to the Veteran's death before it was issued, and the appeal will be re-docketed with a substituted Appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen her claim for service connection of a stress fracture of the right ankle/foot due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is remanded for a more contemporaneous VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his service-connected condition, including any flare-ups or repetitive use over time.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding whether the Veteran currently has a right ankle condition. The matter is further remanded for additional examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded two issues: one regarding the rating for a right ankle disability and another for varicose veins secondary to that disability. The AOJ needs to re-issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) with all relevant information.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, rotator cuff tendonitis of the right shoulder, painful surgical scars of the right lower extremity, residual scar of the right lower extremity, right ankle status post-surgery, circadian rhythm sleep disorder, and right inguinal hernia. The issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete records and missed examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle and right wrist disorders due to outstanding VA treatment records. Additional medical opinions are needed regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's left foot, left ankle, right ankle, and lumbar disabilities have been granted service connection.,A 30 percent rating has been granted for arthritis of the right foot.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, muscle spasms and joint pain (to include knee pain), bilateral upper extremities, or right ankle/foot disabilities. The medical opinions provided by VA have consistently concluded that these conditions are not related to service.,reasoning_summary_1_sentence_on_deciding_factor_for_issues_granted_or_denied_directly_based_on_service_connection_theory_and_exposure_basis_combined_with_medical_opinions,0.5

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus, left and right ankle sprains, tinnitus, left knee degenerative arthritis, painful scars of the ankles, and right knee degenerative arthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. As a result, he is granted total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for periodontal disease for treatment purposes is not properly adjudicated and must be remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist condition, including arthritis, secondary to his right ankle disability, is also not properly adjudicated and must be remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical spine, low back, bilateral foot (plantar fasciitis), bilateral ankle (sprain and tendonitis), and bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran's lay statements regarding her symptoms and their timeline are considered in reaching a decision.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disability, right ankle disability, and right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the disabilities and active service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and examination due to missing service medical records, conflicting evidence regarding qualifying Southwest Asia service, and incomplete information about the nature of his conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 8, 2013. Therefore, the claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle strain and right knee strain due to inadequate VA examinations, failure to follow proper claims processing rules, and need for a new examination.