Ankle Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left ankle disability and his service-connected left knee and/or left foot disabilities. The claim will be returned for a new examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his service. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions obtained are inadequate for addressing the Veteran's right knee and ankle conditions. The Veteran is therefore required to undergo additional examinations to determine the current severity of his knee disabilities, as well as a new opinion regarding whether his bilateral ankle conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records, including those from private providers. The VA will obtain these records and then readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities have been granted service connection. The left knee disability and allergic rhinitis are pending issues.,An effective date earlier than June 17, 2016 for the award of right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy is denied. A timely notice of disagreement was not filed with respect to the issue of an earlier effective date for a cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his service-connected right ankle and left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating in any of these cases.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not combine to 70 percent or more, so he does not qualify for a TDIU under the percentage requirements. The Board finds that there is a reasonable possibility of unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities and remands the issue to the Director of Compensation Service for an opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate VA examinations in previous decisions. The issues include service connection for left ankle sprain, left flat foot (pes planus), and increased ratings for left and right knee disorders.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for sarcoidosis, rheumatoid arthritis, right knee disability, left knee disability, and other conditions. The appeals are now remanded to determine whether service connection can be established.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain is rated at 20 percent, effective August 11, 2014. His right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each granted initial 20 percent ratings, effective August 11, 2014 and April 29, 2019 respectively. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective November 15, 2012. His right foot fibromatosis and left foot fibromatosis are granted service connection. His bilateral hip strains are secondary to his knee and ankle disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, finding that there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and other conditions due to a lack of current diagnosis meeting DSM-5 criteria. The Veteran's claims were remanded multiple times but no new evidence was provided.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of this decision. Additionally, he is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability and remanded the TDIU claim. The decision on service connection is in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to outstanding records and need for new VA opinions.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, and right arm disabilities due to lack of VA examiner opinions on their etiology. The Veteran's lay statements regarding symptoms during and since service are considered in formulating these opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, shoulder, and arm conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining missing VA treatment records and providing etiology opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability, a bilateral ankle disability, and bilateral eye cataracts. The Veteran's disabilities are related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inconsistencies in the opinions provided by a nurse practitioner regarding the Veteran's flare-ups and their impact on disability ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left shoulder, right knee, and right ankle disabilities due to new evidence identified by the Veteran. The VA is required to obtain authorization and request private treatment records from relevant facilities and schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions.