Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's claims are not currently decided on their merits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been granted for bilateral pes planus with plantar wart/callosities residuals and left ankle condition. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral leg condition, left hip condition, and bilateral foot condition (other than pes planus) are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle traumatic arthritis and right femur lytic lesion need further examination to determine their current severity and etiology. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disability, left ankle disability, and left knee disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various joint disabilities associated with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome have been denied. The RO has granted additional service connection and assigned new ratings, but the Veteran is not entitled to higher ratings under current regulations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his inability to attend scheduled VA examinations. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral gastrochnemius strain, right knee strain, and left ankle strain. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are supported by medical records, including VA examination reports.,The Board found that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's claimed disabilities began during active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is denied. The Board finds no current disability associated with the right knee, either by diagnosis or showing of functional impairment. Service connection for bilateral ankle disorders is remanded as there are no VA examinations assessing these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left-hand disability, right-hand disability, left ankle disability, left knee disability, and left foot disability due to inadequate VA examinations and missing non-VA medical records. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right foot strain, service connection for right ankle disability (including as secondary to the service-connected right foot strain), and service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate examinations and failure to address functional loss during flare-ups and with repeated use over time.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a right ankle disability due to the Veteran's withdrawal before the decision was made.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's neck disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left ankle disorder. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right ankle sprains have been denied as the evidence does not show marked limitation of motion, with dorsiflexion or plantar flexion less than 5 degrees in either ankle.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease were not granted an increased rating as they did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,Service connection was denied for right knee strain, left knee strain, and right ankle condition due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The issues of service connection for Tourette's syndrome, left ankle fracture as secondary to Meniere's syndrome with peripheral vestibular disorder, trigeminal neuralgia (face), thoracic syringomyelia (back), cervical spine disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability are being considered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle conditions due to a lack of evidence regarding in-service vaccinations or injuries. The case is returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's right ankle and Achilles tendon disability, coronary artery disease, and epididymitis with bilateral orchalgia and left spermatocele have been granted service connection. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his epididymitis has been denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right ankle disability is not service-connected, and has remanded the left shoulder disability for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and granted service connection for bilateral arthralgia of the ankles. The right hip disability issue is being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to July 10, 2020, and a rating in excess of 20 percent thereafter, for his service-connected left ankle disability due to inadequate examination findings.