Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not adequately addressed by the current evidence and requires further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral ankle disability, a bilateral foot disability, and a bilateral knee disability. The Veteran's testimony about his pain during service and since was considered credible.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient nexus opinions provided by VA examiners. The Veteran's statements are considered competent and credible regarding his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain with arthritis, right elbow strain, and right ankle strain (distal fibula fracture) are all granted as service-connected.,An initial compensable rating for the service-connected right little finger disability prior to November 25, 2019, is denied. An initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected right little finger disability since November 25, 2019, is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple joints and back disorders are being remanded due to additional relevant evidence added to the record since the December 2021 supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's right elbow, right knee, and right ankle disabilities due to evidence of increased severity. For his left shoulder condition, a new opinion is needed regarding whether it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his lumbar spine disability, bilateral ankle disabilities, and right and left sciatic nerve radiculopathy. The issues of TDIU are also being deferred until these matters are resolved.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the remaining issues due to need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inconsistencies in the VA examination reports. The Veteran's knee and ankle conditions are being evaluated again to determine their current severity.

The Board has remanded the claims multiple times for further information and more complete findings. The Veteran's ankle disabilities have resulted in marked limitations of motion, but no ankylosis or functional equivalent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination to evaluate the current severity of his disability under the newly revised rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since March 23, 2015. The Board has granted a TDIU effective that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral ankle disability, left knee strain, and right knee arthritis due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a left shoulder condition was granted. The claims for bilateral knee and ankle conditions are remanded.

The Board has found there has not been substantial compliance with its February 2022 remand instructions and has therefore ordered the case to be remanded for further development, including obtaining new medical addendum opinions addressing aggravation for secondary service connection of bilateral lower extremity varicosities, bilateral ankles, and bilateral knees.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to January 30, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for neck, back, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities due to additional development needed.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence received since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The Veteran seeks service connection for a neck condition and increased ratings for left shoulder and right ankle conditions. These issues are now pending before the AOJ.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% since November 1, 2006. The TDIU issue is moot due to the 100% rating for PTSD. SMC was granted effective September 28, 2018.