Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete examinations and failure to address critical evaluation criteria.

The Veteran's respiratory condition appeal has been withdrawn. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral ankle or knee disabilities related to service, and remands for further examination.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DM II), whether the reduction in rating was proper, and entitlement to an increased rating for residuals, right ankle subtalar dislocation with arthritis 1st metatarsophalangeal joint.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss.,The Veteran's appendectomy scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA regulations.,The Veteran's TBI, PTSD, and related conditions are remanded due to missing service treatment records.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and thoracic/lumbar spine arthritis, cervical spine disability, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and psychiatric disorder are all remanded for further development.,The Veteran's right foot disability, left foot disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability are also remanded due to missing service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence to determine if the Veteran's left ankle surgery in December 2020 was related to any of his service-connected disabilities, specifically those associated with his lower extremities.

The Veteran's right ankle and right wrist disorders have been rated at the lowest available evaluation (10%) for the entire period on appeal. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss due to pain or instability.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of 40 percent is warranted under revised criteria. However, the most recent VA examination did not show ankylosis or nonunion of the tibia or fibula, which are necessary for a higher rating. The Veteran's symptoms have increased in severity since the last examination, and further medical evaluation is needed to determine if these symptoms warrant a 40 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as right and left ankle disabilities due to issues with the timeliness of a RAMP election in January 2019. The Veteran will be able to opt into the AMA upon receipt of an SSOC produced after completing the remand actions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened, and the appeal is granted. The claims for service connection for other conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back, left wrist, right ankle, athlete's foot, and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) conditions due to insufficient medical evidence to decide the claims. A VA examination is necessary in each case.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, characterized by ligamentous strain, bursitis, and tarsal tunnel syndrome, has been rated at 10 percent since October 14, 2014. The Board has determined that a higher rating of 30 percent is warranted due to ankylosis in dorsiflexion between 0 and 10 degrees.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and medical opinions are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including hypertension, hand, shoulder, ankle, TBI, psoriasis, and sleep disorder. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has ordered further development to determine if the Veteran's service-connected hypertension and right ankle disorder were immediate or underlying causes of his death in January 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip and ankle disabilities, as well as a gastrointestinal disability, were denied. The Board found that these conditions are not related to his active duty service or any service-connected condition.,The Veteran was unable to attend the required VA examinations.

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

The Board has granted service connection for right and left ankle disorders, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a failure to obtain private treatment records from Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka, Kansas. The Veteran's attorney requested these records and the VA is required to attempt to obtain them.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding aggravation of a left ankle disorder by service-connected diabetes mellitus or right knee psoriatic arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and extraschedular evaluations for his right ankle and knee disabilities, as well as his claim for a TDIU rating due to service-connected disabilities. The case will be returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle disability, residuals of TBI, cervical spine disability, and low back disability are not fully addressed due to incomplete medical opinions. The cases have been remanded for further development.