Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating for his service-connected left ankle degenerative arthritis, service connection for fibromyalgia (claimed as chronic pain syndrome), and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, and he had service-connected disabilities rated as totally disabling for a continuous period of at least one year immediately preceding death. However, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 because he was not evaluated by VA as totally disabled for a continuous period of at least 10 years immediately preceding his death.

The claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain was not reopened, and the appeal is denied. The claims for right foot heel spurs, GERD, and twisted left ankle disability are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle condition and granted his claim for service connection for a lower back disorder. The denial of the left ankle condition is based on lack of chronicity in service, no evidence of continuity of symptomatology, and no causal relationship to service. The grant of service connection for the lower back disorder is due to reports of continued lower back pain since service.

The Veteran's unemployability due to his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities has been recognized, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114 (s)(1).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to issues with contact information and examination scheduling.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee condition, bilateral flat feet, and right ankle condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding direct service connection or secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of evidence, including obtaining VA treatment records and private medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are also being remanded for additional examination and opinion regarding his ankle disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left foot gout, right wrist gout, and right and left ankle gout. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are consistent with his service records and medical opinions supporting their onset during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, finding no current diagnosis of an ankle disability. The bladder issue is remanded due to missing Vet Center records.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a left ankle disorder due to an error in docketing under the AMA system, as the Veteran had already appealed under the Legacy framework.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the Veteran's right leg and/or broken ankle injury following his June 2017 spine epidural. The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for these injuries.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU rating prior to September 22, 2009. The Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that the Veteran is unemployable solely by reason of his service-connected disabilities and thus, entitlement to a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis has been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left tibial stress fracture and right tibial stress fracture with ankle strain, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical records and military personnel verification.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran is also entitled to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected thoracolumbar spine condition and must undergo further examination regarding his right ankle condition.

The Board has remanded four issues: increased ratings for left knee and right ankle disorders, service connection for sleep apnea, and a TDIU claim. The reasons include inadequate examinations and the need for addendum opinions on PTSD's impact on sleep apnea.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, ankle, shoulder, and back disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a medical opinion and an incomplete review of the service department records. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities need to be evaluated in relation to his discharge.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and right ankle disorder have been granted.,Both conditions were previously denied in the November 1997 Rating Decision, but new evidence received since then has established that these conditions are related to active duty service.