Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of his back, left shoulder, and right ankle disabilities are remanded due to incomplete medical records. The VA will obtain relevant treatment records and personnel files from the Tennessee National Guard.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, venous stasis skin changes, left lower leg, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, schizoaffective disorder, depressive disorder, substance abuse) due to insufficient evidence or procedural errors. The Veteran's claims are not yet decided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left ankle is at least as likely as not related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the appeal regarding service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, and allergic rhinitis is remanded due to need for new evidence.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has been rated at 40 percent since January 11, 2022. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as the maximum schedular rating available for an ankle disability under the amputation rule has already been assigned.

The Veteran's left and right ankle pain, status post sprains, are rated at 10 percent each. The Veteran is granted a 10 percent rating for sinusitis from October 3, 2017.

The Veteran's left foot pes planus was granted service connection as it clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service and was aggravated during active duty.,Service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis is granted as the condition developed due to her service-connected left foot pes planus. The Board also found that aggravation of left ankle arthritis by ACDUTRA period may have occurred.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for PTSD, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, and right ear hearing loss has been granted. The cases are now remanded for further evaluation.,PTSD service connection is established.

The Board has determined that further evidentiary development is necessary to determine the appropriate rating for the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability. The claim will be remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has remanded the case for further development to consider if a higher rating or TDIU is warranted.

The Veteran's service connection for hypothyroidism and left ankle tendon rupture status post-surgical fusion has been granted. Additionally, the Veteran is now eligible for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of sleep apnea due to inadequate opinions regarding its etiology. The Veteran's period of service and lay reports are considered in determining whether there is a relationship between his current condition and military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep condition is denied as the evidence does not support a separate diagnosis of a sleep condition. The Board finds that his symptoms are related to his already service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart and peripheral edema conditions have been reopened but remain denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right foot disorder, but denied his claims for total left hip arthroplasty, bilateral knee degenerative changes, and bilateral ankle disorders. The right foot disorder is found to be due to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation due to lack of marked limitation of motion.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed for the following conditions: prostate disability, urethra disability, bilateral eye disability, right ankle disability, residuals of surgery, left shoulder disability, and right hand disability. The remaining issues have been remanded.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his disabilities. The issues of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for unspecified depressive disorder with secondary other substance abuse disorder, service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral wrist disability, bilateral hand disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, and diabetes mellitus, type II are all remanded.

The Veteran's sinusitis was granted service connection. The Board found that the Veteran's character of discharge for the period from January 2005 to October 2008 should be remanded, as well as his claims for psychiatric disorders, cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, sacroiliac weakness, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral leg shin splints, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral hammertoes, bilateral foot disorder, hypertensive heart disease, high blood pressure, emphysema, COPD, bronchiectasis, sleep apnea, maxilla oral surgery scarring, tooth loss and periodontal disease, skin cancer, facial scarring, and hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, back disability, bilateral ankle disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment from June 8, 2011, to March 17, 2015.