Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset and causation of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability was granted with an effective date of June 17, 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to a lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives, specifically obtaining a VA examination and medical nexus opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and left ankle disabilities due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives. The VA Regional Office is required to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these disabilities, as well as verify the Veteran's period of active duty for training or inactive duty training.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for his lumbar spine strain, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and Achilles tendonitis of the left ankle due to incomplete records. The Veteran is requested to provide any private medical records related to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate was denied because he does not have a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent disabling or a TDIU based on a single disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle conditions as secondary to his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board has granted a separate rating of 10 percent for right ankle disability based on limited motion. The issues of ratings in excess of 10 percent, and for right achilles tendinosis, mild tendinosis of the flexor hallucis longus tendon with tenosynovitis, and varicose veins secondary to right ankle disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to decide the claims for service connection for PTSD, costochondritis, back condition, hearing loss, abdominal pain, hemorrhoids, traumatic brain injury (TBI), left ankle condition, and right knee strain. The Veteran's VA generated evidence will be reviewed in a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including left knee disability, back disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, right ankle disability, hepatitis C, and arthritis. The evidence did not show a nexus between any of these conditions and service.

The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied service connection claims for fallen arches and right knee condition was granted.,Service connection for skin rash, bilateral flat feet, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right knee DJD, left knee DJD, right ankle tendonitis, and left ankle tendonitis is also granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right foot disability warrants a 30 percent evaluation, and his painful right foot scar warrants a 10 percent evaluation. The right ankle strain issue is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities due to a lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives. Additional VA medical opinions are needed to address causation and aggravation.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of left ankle fracture and remanded the issues of increased rating for bronchial asthma and TDIU.

The Veteran's right ankle disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected left ankle and bilateral knee disabilities. The initial evaluations for the left shoulder, left and right knees are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle disability, finding that there is not an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence to support the claim. The Board concluded that the Veteran's current ankle disorders are less likely related to his military service or to his service-connected back disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal due to incomplete records and need for new examinations. The issues of service connection for sacroiliitis, left hip disability, and bilateral ankle disabilities are being addressed.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to difficulties in scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran is asked to provide her contact information and attend the requested VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle disability and cervical spine disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.