Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle disorder. The examiner was not asked to consider the Veteran's report of injury during service and his continued symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's old, healed talus fracture (claimed as right ankle) is granted a disability rating of 20 percent. The issues regarding vision and elbow disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred during active service and denied his claim. The Board also found remand necessary for additional examinations to assess the severity of his knee and ankle conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral shin splints, right ankle sprain, and a bilateral wrist condition. The Veteran's conditions are found to have begun during his military service.,Service connection is granted based on direct evidence of in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including obtaining missing service records and verifying alleged exposure to chemicals. The Veteran's conditions include gastroesophageal disorder (GERD), obstructive sleep apnea, low back disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, neck disorder, right shoulder disorder, and residuals of a head injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board finds that additional development is needed to determine the current severity of his knee and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The hernia disability, abdominal scar, fibromyalgia, acquired psychiatric disability (pending), left shoulder disability (pending), right shoulder disability (pending), left arm disability (pending), right arm disability (pending), left elbow disability (pending), right elbow disability (pending), disability of the small finger, left hand (pending), cervical spine disability (pending), left ankle disability (pending), right ankle disability (pending), left foot skin disability (pending), and right foot skin disability (pending) were not granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinus disability (pending), bilateral eye disability (pending), disability of the left eye cornea (pending), bilateral hearing loss disability (pending), tinnitus (pending), vertigo (pending), headaches (pending), and sleep apnea (pending) are pending.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as he has not submitted evidence necessary to substantiate the claim and his service-connected left ankle disability does not impact his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, thoracic spine, left ankle, right ankle, and right foot disorders due to inadequate medical opinions.

A higher 20 percent rating is granted for the left ankle disability, effective from November 8, 2013.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded several issues related to his right ankle, cervical spine, left hip, left knee, and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a right knee disorder. The case is remanded for further development on several issues, including entitlement to increased ratings and service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, specifically addressing secondary and aggravation theories. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are believed to be contributing factors.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has ordered a remand due to evidence of worsening since the last VA examination. The case must be returned for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, major depression, and PTSD. The issue of service connection for a bilateral ankle disability is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle strain is currently rated at 20 percent from July 25, 2019. The rating was granted as the disability has been found to have marked limitation of motion since that date.

The Veteran's bilateral hand essential tremors were granted service connection on a direct basis. The issues of malaria, immunodeficiency disorder, chronic bronchitis, left thumb sprain, right ankle strain, left ankle strain, right knee strain, left knee strain with limitation of extension, thoracic spine degenerative disc disease and lumbar strain, left hip strain, and post traumatic headaches are all pending.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for a new medical opinion to determine if it is related to service or his service-connected hepatitis C. The issues of higher initial ratings for various joint disabilities and radiculopathy are also being remanded.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome have been granted service connection as secondary to their respective service-connected conditions. The Veteran also received a TDIU for the period from October 25, 2016, to April 1, 2020.