Ankle Board decisions

Additional evidence is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus. The Board requires that federal records and private treatment records be obtained.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including an eating disorder leading to obesity) may require a VA examination due to his reported sleep habits in service, but more information is needed from the medical records.,Insomnia needs further evaluation as there are no current VA examinations addressing this issue. The Board requires that private treatment records be obtained and a VA examination conducted.,The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) may require a VA examination to determine if it is related to service, including his reported symptoms in service. More information from the medical records is needed.,A bilateral ankle disability needs further evaluation as there are no current VA examinations addressing this issue. The Board requires that private treatment records be obtained and a VA examination conducted.,The Veteran's low back disability may require a VA examination to determine if it is related to service, including his reported injury in service. More information from the medical records is needed.,Sciatica needs further evaluation as there are no current VA examinations addressing this issue. The Board requires that private treatment records be obtained and a VA examination conducted.,The Veteran's headache disability (including migraines) may require a VA examination to determine if it is related to service, including his reported symptoms in service. More information from the medical records is needed.,Residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) needs further evaluation as there are no current VA examinations addressing this issue. The Board requires that private treatment records be obtained and a VA examination conducted.

The Veteran's service-connected ankle, knee, hip, wrist, elbow, and foot disabilities have been granted. A 10 percent rating for GERD has also been granted.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records from Texas Physical Therapy.

The Board has denied a higher rating for the Veteran's right ankle disability and has remanded the issue of service connection for pes planus secondary to his right ankle disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle disability is at least as likely as not related to a left foot stress fracture he incurred during active service, and thus grants service connection for his left ankle injury.

The Board has determined that there is no clear and unmistakable error in the April 2018 rating decision assigning an overall combined evaluation of 80 percent. The Veteran's lumbar spine, right ankle, bilateral foot, and left wrist disabilities are all currently under consideration for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and TDIU due to issues with his lumbar spine, knees, and ankles. The AOJ is instructed to obtain VA opinions on the severity of the Veteran's back condition during flare-ups and following repeated use over time, etiology of his knee conditions, etiology of his ankle condition, and extraschedular consideration for TDIU prior to April 1, 2013.

The Veteran's GERD is service-connected as secondary to his Parkinson's disease. He received a 40% rating for his lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and an increased rating for his right ankle fracture residuals.

The Board has determined that substantial compliance with its prior remand directives to obtain the Veteran's outstanding VA and private treatment records, schedule a VA examination for his bilateral leg disabilities, schedule a VA examination for his bilateral ankle disabilities, and schedule a VA examination for his bilateral pes planus was not achieved. As such, the claims are being remanded once again.

The Board has denied service connection for chest pain, right ankle disability, bilateral wrist disabilities, prostate cancer, and penis and groin area pain. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and right ankle disabilities, as well as his TDIU claim due to service-connected disabilities. The VA examinations conducted in November 2021 did not provide sufficient information regarding the Veteran's flare-ups, which is required by Sharp v. Shulkin (29 Vet. App. 26).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to Gulf War illness for additional examinations and opinions regarding his claimed conditions, including genetic autoimmune disorders, joint pain, uveitis, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities have been granted initial ratings of 20 percent each.,No higher rating is warranted for the service-connected ankle conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities, specifically right and left ankle sprain with degenerative joint disease, have been granted increased ratings. Additionally, a temporary total rating for convalescence after left ankle stabilization surgery from March 28, 2014 to June 2, 2014 has been granted, along with an effective date of March 28, 2014 for the Veteran's left ankle scar.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to a compensable rating for right ankle disability, service connection for left ankle disability, low back disability, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran will need to provide medical records and undergo VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations obtained upon remand were inadequate and requires further examination to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is service-connected, whether it is aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, and how his back and right ankle disabilities impact his daily functioning.

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability as secondary to the left ankle disability. The decision is based on credible testimony from the Veteran regarding his in-service experiences.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left knee patellofemoral syndrome, left ankle sprain, low back condition, throat condition (claimed as strep throat), and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and remanded the issues of service connection for insomnia, bilateral hip disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability.