Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's GERD/hiatal hernia with erosive gastritis is rated at 30 percent, but no more, since May 31, 2013.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for the right thumb scar is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to conflicting evidence in his VA examination reports, the need for additional treatment records, and the possibility of separate rating considerations.

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

The Veteran's right ankle condition and bilateral eye disorder are granted service connection, while hypertension is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and earlier effective date for her right ankle disability are remanded. Her service connection claim for a back disorder, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, type II diabetes mellitus, and TDIU are also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, right ankle, cervical spine, lumbar spine, cephalgia, partial loss of use of upper extremities, and gout involving the left hand, knees, and ankles as there is no persuasive evidence that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to in-service injuries or diseases.,The Board found that the Veteran's current disabilities do not have a direct link to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because he did not submit a completed VA Form 21-8940 to support his application, and there is no indication in the evidence of record that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the remaining issues of back, left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities. The Veteran's PTSD rating remains under review.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability is associated with neurologic impairment of the right lower extremity, which has been granted as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder, finding that his current condition is not related to his military service.,The Board remanded the issue of service connection for a left knee disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a right arm disability, to include right shoulder strain; and entitlement to ratings in excess of 10 percent disabling for right elbow arthritis prior to July 13, 2020, and since that date. The Veteran's loss of motion in the left ankle is found to be due to his service-connected radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's service connection claim for intermittent explosive disorder with sleep impairment is granted. Claims for a separate sleep disorder, headaches, hypertension, and right ankle condition are denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right ankle disability. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss remains denied, and the claims for service connection of back disability and depression are remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's clothing allowance claims for use of a back brace, bilateral ankle braces, right knee brace, shoe inserts (orthotics), and topical cream due to insufficient evidence regarding the types of devices used and their impact on clothing. The AOJ is instructed to seek clarification from the Veteran and obtain relevant documentation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence supports reopening the claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, hemorrhoids, respiratory disorder, left ankle, and left foot disorders. These conditions are now subject to further evaluation.,The appeal as to these six issues is granted.

The Veteran's appeal regarding his July 2022 HLR Request for service connection of residuals of a left ankle injury was denied because the request was untimely filed.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to a lack of adequate nexus opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete verification of the Veteran's periods of active duty, active duty for training, and inactive duty for training with the Florida Air National Guard. The issues of service connection for cervical spine disability, sinus disability (including sinusitis), left ankle disability, and fatigue (including chronic fatigue syndrome) are remanded.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, rated at 20 percent prior to August 10, 2021, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter, has not met the criteria for a higher rating.