Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent prior to September 27, 2021 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter. The Board granted the initial rating of 20 percent for the period before September 27, 2021.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for various lower extremity and upper body disabilities, including back pain, neck disability, ankle disabilities, foot disability, knee disabilities, hip disabilities, and shoulder disabilities. The VA will conduct additional examinations and obtain updated medical records before deciding these issues.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain additional medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, right knee, and low back disabilities are being reviewed.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine is denied.,Additional issues related to service connection and increased ratings are remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for right and left ankle strain, including a new examination and consideration of extraschedular considerations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back, bilateral knee and ankle, and right wrist disabilities due to insufficient examination reports and outstanding records. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings or service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, including whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee arthritis and/or right ankle fracture. The case is being remanded for a new VA addendum medical opinion.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for deep vein thrombosis of the left leg and right and left ankle ulcers, finding new and material evidence. The claims are remanded to obtain VA opinions on etiology.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for ankle and shoulder disorders due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of service connection for a left ankle disability before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate examination reports and failure to consider the Veteran's contentions of flare-ups, foot pain during service, and ongoing foot problems.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examiners. The claims are being returned for further review and examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a current examination and retrospective assessment of his service-connected left ankle muscle injury, as well as an evaluation of his TDIU claim which is inextricably intertwined with the left ankle issue.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for low back disability, right ankle disability, and bilateral knee disability due to insufficient evidence. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to obtain jump and medical treatment records from Fort Bragg from 1982 through 1988. Additionally, a VA examination must be conducted to provide opinions on the onset and relationship of each condition to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and right ankle degenerative arthritis were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes did not require regulation of activities, while his right ankle arthritis did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the old or new Diagnostic Code 5271.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ankle disability, finding that his current condition is related to an in-service injury and resolving all doubt in his favor.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal as his timely filed VA Form 9 was received, and the presumption of regularity in mailing the Statement of the Case (SOC) to his attorney has been rebutted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to the submission of additional VA treatment records that were not previously considered.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5271 for limitation of motion. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.