Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's right ankle disability is remanded for further examination and rating, and the TDIU claim prior to October 1, 2019, is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in prior VA examinations. The Veteran is required to provide releases for non-VA care providers and obtain any relevant records from VA.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's right ankle disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with degenerative arthritis is being remanded due to the need to obtain a death certificate or other credible/official information confirming the Veteran's passing.

The appeal with respect to the right foot disability is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left hand, right hand, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to notification issues and because of evidence indicating a worsening of the disorders since previous examinations conducted several years ago.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his healed left ankle fracture with residual mild traumatic arthropathy was granted. The appeal for service connection of a left knee disorder was denied.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has not been manifested by marked limitation of motion, and the Board denied a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the old or new rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle, right knee, and right thumb conditions due to concerns about the adequacy of the previous VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right ear disability and a right ankle disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is requested to provide private treatment records and undergo VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation, as his education, training, and experience allow for sedentary employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability caused or aggravated circulation issues that prevented proper circulation to his right foot, which in turn contributed to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected status post fractured right ankle with residuals is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher evaluation is not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, liver disease (to include hepatitis B), gastrointestinal disorder (to include IBS and/or Crohn's disease), low back disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, kidney disease, heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for these conditions must be remanded to obtain VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a left ankle condition, cervical spine DJD (neck condition), and an increase rating for right ankle disability due to new evidence received since the March 2016 rating decision.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted by the agency of original jurisdiction. The claims for other conditions have been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including leukemia, left ankle and knee conditions, tinnitus, skull scars, and lower leg issues, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the claims for gastrointestinal disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, and multiple musculoskeletal disorders due to lack of complete development. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of various knee and ankle disabilities, tinnitus, and right little finger arthritis have been denied as the earliest possible effective date is April 9, 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for dizziness, right ankle condition, left knee condition, lumbar spine condition, and prostate condition due to duty-to-assist errors.