Ankle Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for neck, back, and left ankle disabilities due to inadequate development in previous examinations.

The Veteran's left ankle achilles tendonitis with scar is rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The lumbar spine degenerative disc disease prior to July 14, 2022, was also rated at 20 percent, but the Board denied an increased rating thereafter.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle disability, but has remanded the issue of service connection for arthritis of bilateral hands due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back disability, bilateral ankle disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete records. The tinnitus claim is granted with an effective date of December 2, 2013.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder and left ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions in the current file. The Veteran's STRs are incomplete, and a new examination is needed to determine if his disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has been manifested by marked limited motion due to pain, weakness, fatigue, and swelling for the entire period on appeal. The Board granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for his service-connected status post fracture of the right ankle.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral ankle disability and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle disability and heart disability (mitral valve prolapse), finding no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that is related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings for various knee and ankle disabilities due to new evidence being added to the file.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle, right foot, and low back disabilities due to new evidence received after the last Supplemental Statements of the Case (SSOCs).

The Board has denied service connection for Chronic Pain Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Back Condition, Left Hip Condition, Right Hip Condition, Left Ankle Condition, and Right Ankle Condition. The Veteran's claims for TBI and Undiagnosed Sleep Disturbance or Insomnia have also been denied.

The Veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to January 15, 2021 or in excess of 70 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's right elbow bursitis based on limitation of extension and supination does not warrant ratings higher than 50 percent and 10 percent respectively.

Your appeal for increased ratings for left knee and left ankle disabilities has been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's TDIU from March 2, 2016 is based on service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes. The Board found that the additional service-connected disabilities (right ankle, left ankle, right knee strain, tinnitus, and left lower extremity radiculopathy) are separate and distinct from the lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development being needed, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination for the Veteran's right ankle disability. The AOJ should also consider whether a temporary total convalescent rating is appropriate following the Veteran's March 2022 surgery.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of sleep apnea and hypertension, as well as his claim for TDIU, were granted with an effective date of April 16, 2011. The VA also awarded Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits effective from the same date.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various conditions including bilateral knee and ankle conditions, sleep apnea, psychiatric disability, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and back condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder was denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused the current condition.,For his left shoulder disorder, the Veteran's claim was also denied. The disability has been rated at the highest schedular rating available (30 percent) since June 1, 2015, based on limitation of motion not meeting higher criteria for ankylosis or impairment of the humerus.,The Veteran's left ankle disorder was found to warrant a 10 percent disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5271. The Board noted that while there is pain during movement, it does not limit his range of motion below the levels required for higher ratings.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development, including a functional assessment of his service-connected disabilities and review of VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's ankle disabilities are inadequate, and thus remanded for further evaluation.