Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his depressive disorder and right ankle strain, render him unemployable. The Board finds that the criteria for a Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU) have been met.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her left ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's talar osteochondritis of the left ankle was initially rated at 10 percent prior to January 11, 2022 and granted a 20 percent rating effective since that date. The issue of entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is raised by the record.,The Veteran's left patellofemoral pain syndrome was remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left leg varicose veins and his service. The examiner needs to consider the Veteran's reported in-service symptoms and their continuity post-service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, including a right ankle disorder, neck disorder, back disorder, shoulder disorders, knee disorders, and bilateral foot disorder, have been denied. The Board found no current disability of the claimed right ankle disorder.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed right leg Achilles rupture and left leg (ankle/ Achilles) disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease. The Board also found that the current disabilities were not related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to the need to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC) and provide the Veteran with an opportunity to perfect his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the service connection for right and left ankle disorders, including whether they are related to bilateral knee strains.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that it is caused by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The issues include cardiac disability, bilateral hearing loss, neurological disabilities of both upper extremities, right knee disability, PTSD, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lipoma of the left upper back area is denied as there is no evidence linking it to his military service, including herbicide exposure. The claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and joint pain are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for further development.,An effective date of October 7, 2011, is granted for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy and right lower extremity neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine, left knee, and left ankle/foot disabilities based on the Veteran's reported in-service fall. The Board found that her current conditions are at least as likely as not related to her military service.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left ankle fracture, an acquired psychiatric disorder, GERD, IBS, and a right hip disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.,Bilateral hearing loss was also denied as there is no evidence indicating it meets the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle sprain, right knee disability, left knee disability, residuals of left thumb fracture, and residuals of right thumb fracture have been denied as the evidence does not support higher ratings.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which is a substantial factor in causing his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis, left ankle strain, and low back disability were evaluated. The seborrheic dermatitis was found to not warrant a compensable rating due to its limited extent of affected skin.,For the left ankle strain, the Veteran did not meet criteria for a higher rating as his range of motion remained within normal limits with no significant effects on occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right ankle disability, including potential service connection and aggravation by obesity.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee and ankle disabilities result in functional impairment equivalent to loss of use of the right lower extremity, allowing her to be eligible for financial assistance for an automobile and adaptive equipment.