Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for heel, knee, and ankle disabilities due to inadequate examination in August 2013. The Veteran should undergo a VA examination to determine if he has current diagnoses related to his heels, knees, and ankles.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in effective dates and rating determinations, requiring further development of claims for service connection for left knee disability and increased ratings for right fibula fracture and its residuals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating need further development due to incomplete information or evidence. The issues have been remanded for additional examinations, record requests, and opinions.

The Board has granted service connection and assigned a 30% disability rating for asthma, effective from October 8, 2013. The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities (right and left) are also granted as service connected, with the right shoulder having chronic pain and the left shoulder having chronic pain. Service connection is also granted for residuals of a left ankle sprain. Tinnitus is also granted as service-connected.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, as the evidence does not support service connection for either bilateral foot or ankle conditions.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective July 17, 2014. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of unemployability prior to this date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various ankle and upper extremity disorders due to a lack of medical opinion regarding their relationship to service. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for VA to obtain private treatment records, and a VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied due to his failure to report for a VA examination.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee, right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ankle, back, and right leg disabilities due to incomplete service records and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for updated VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to November 24, 2014. The decision also found that the issue of special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) was not raised by the record.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and right elbow disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The VA examiners found that any current disability is more likely related to post-service activities, such as work at a cable company.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability, but has remanded the cases of respiratory and heart disabilities due to insufficient opinions on their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including asbestosis with fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, atrial fibrillation, and right ankle sprain with instability and tendonitis, have resulted in severe impairment to employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined rating of 50% for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular TDIU consideration due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral ankle disability is found to be a factor in his inability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for depression disorder, left knee disability, left ankle disability, and left foot disability were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating for his depression disorder or for service connection for his left knee, left ankle, and left foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for left and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The decision on service connection for right eye astigmatism is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and readjudication due to inadequate VA opinions, including a need for an adequate examination by a rheumatologist.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and verifying his employment history.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU effective October 31, 2016. He was also granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.