Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development due to issues related to his right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, as well as his right ankle disability. No new rating has been assigned yet.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of compliance with previous remand directives and to provide the Veteran with a VA examination that complies with relevant case law.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, testicular pain secondary to the lumbar spine disability, and left ankle disability. The Board found that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right ankle and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence, including failure to discuss functional loss during flare-ups and range of motion testing. A new examination is required.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left ankle, but denied service connection for a patellar bone spur of the left knee.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate prior examinations and failure to consider certain factors in the rating decisions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to April 11, 2019. Effective April 11, 2019, the Veteran is entitled to TDIU based solely on his left ankle disability and SMC for aid and attendance due to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle and right knee disabilities due to insufficient examination opinions addressing the Veteran's contentions of continuous pain since service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right ankle disorder has been withdrawn. The Board has also dismissed the claims for increased disability evaluation for right wrist fracture, back disorder, numbness of feet (presumably related to herbicide exposure), acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), left knee disorder, and right knee disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a muscle injury status post right ankle gunshot wound was granted, as the RO improperly notified the Veteran and did not allow them to correct their initial submission.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and left ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service and have continued since.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,A left ankle disability is remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claim can be adjudicated due to lack of VA examinations for his claimed disabilities. The Veteran served on active duty from May 1970 to September 1973 and had in-service treatment for musculoskeletal injuries, including knee, leg, and ankle issues.

The Veteran is granted total disability ratings for all service-connected disabilities in combination prior to January 19, 2022 and a total rating based solely on his acquired psychiatric disorder from that date. He also receives SMC at the housebound rate starting from January 19, 2022.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from a neurologist regarding whether his service-connected bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy 'precludes locomotion' without the aid of external assistive devices.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right ankle disorder, including his in-service injuries and current symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, back, right hip, left hip, right arm, right knee, and right ankle disorders due to unsuccessful attempts to contact him at his current address.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, left knee disability, and left ankle disability are all remanded for further development. The Board found that the current ratings of 10 percent do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board denied service connection for a left Achilles tendon / ankle disability and a right shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus to active service.,For the lumbar spine disability, the Veteran was granted TDIU from October 11, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and left ankle conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment as of May 31, 2018. The Board has remanded the issues related to sleep apnea and a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability prior to May 31, 2018.