Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's left foot/ankle talar talocalcaneal joint stress fracture residuals are currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board is remanding to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for a right ankle disability was denied, and the effective date for service connection of this condition was also denied. The Veteran's initial claim for service connection was denied in November 2002, but he filed a new request to reopen his claim in November 2010, which resulted in a grant of service connection with an effective date of November 17, 2010.

The appeal for service connection of various conditions, including left ankle disorder, disability of the ball of the left foot, bilateral sciatica, bilateral hip pain, right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, and right ankle strain has been withdrawn. The remaining issues of service connection for a low back disorder and right ankle strain have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence being submitted. The Veteran's headaches, right foot/ankle disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all being reconsidered.

Service connection is granted for right and left knee disabilities, as well as back and right ankle disabilities. Service connection for neck disability was dismissed.,The Veteran's right and left knees are found to be related to service due to degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling for posttraumatic arthritis and residuals of fracture, which is the maximum schedular evaluation. The separate rating for right ankle instability is granted at 20 percent.,The issue of entitlement to a TDIU remains pending due to insufficient information.

The Board has remanded the case due to a procedural issue and the need for a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, migraine headaches, cervical spondylosis with myofascial pain syndrome, lumbar DDD, and bilateral ankle tendonitis, render him incapable of re-entering the workforce and working in any substantially gainful capacity. The Board has granted his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and additional evidence being added to the file.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and ratings for various conditions, including right foot hallux valgus, left knee disability (meniscal tear), right ankle strain, PTSD, Morton's neuroma of the left foot, and left tibiofibular sprain. Additional VA treatment records need to be obtained, as well as Social Security Administration records.

The appeals for service connection of various joint conditions, including as secondary to a service-connected right ankle disability, have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and lack of a proper rationale for the medical opinion regarding the cause of death. The Veteran's surviving spouse is seeking service connection for the cause of his death, which includes multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for various disability ratings and service connection claims have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is granted service connection. The right knee and right ankle conditions are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right ankle strains, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are linked to injuries incurred during active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right ankle conditions due to new evidence received since the final denial. The Board finds that these conditions are related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the remaining issues of service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right foot disability (other than right lower extremity neuropathy), left foot disability (other than left lower extremity neuropathy), and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claims for service connection for low back pain, left ankle disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability is granted.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a left foot disability has been remanded.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a right foot disability has been remanded.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a left hip disability has been remanded.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a right hip disability has been remanded.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability has been remanded.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability has been remanded.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a right ankle disability has been remanded.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a left ankle disability has been remanded.

The Board has ordered a new medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability caused or aggravated circulation issues that prevented healing of ulcers on his right foot, and whether these issues contributed to his cause of death from CAD and MI.

The Veteran's bilateral pes cavus, right ankle disability, and erectile dysfunction claims have been granted. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen these claims and established service connection for the conditions.