Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae, back disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right ankle disorder (heel), left ankle disorder (heel), and right knee disorder. Additional development is needed to obtain VA treatment records and provide medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for unspecified joint pain, including a right ankle disability. The evidence did not show that the Veteran had such disabilities during his period of active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's left ankle disability, specifically during flare-ups. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to provide an opinion on his functional loss and range of motion findings.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating for OSA was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, while the left shoulder disability was also denied due to lack of evidence showing symptoms warranting a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA audiological examination to determine whether the Veteran now has a hearing loss disability for VA purposes. The assignment of a separate rating for left foot scars associated with the service-connected left ankle fracture is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding the Veteran's left ankle and right wrist conditions. The Veteran is required to provide updated treatment records and undergo a new medical examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and left ankle disability, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service. The claim for TDIU was also denied as the Veteran could perform sedentary labor despite his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 14, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right ankle sprain was granted, with a disability rating of 20 percent effective from May 27, 2021. The prior rating of 10 percent is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as right and left ankle disorders. Service connection for left hip disorder is also granted. However, the Veteran's claim of a compensable evaluation prior to December 2, 2019, for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and his claim for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent since that date remains pending.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right foot neuropathies following July 2016 surgery may have been caused by carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill on the part of VA. The case is being sent back for a new opinion to clarify this issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to a lack of recent VA examinations addressing these issues. The Veteran is seeking service connection for left eye, right ankle, and back disabilities, as well as increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The effective date for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and scars associated with it remains at March 14, 2017.,The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability and left knee disability are remanded due to the need for VA examinations.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is remanded as there needs to be a new opinion regarding whether his condition worsened during service.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for her left foot scars was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.,For the period from December 29, 2016 to the present, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her left foot, left ankle, and right knee scars was also denied as there is no indication that these conditions warranted a higher rating than what she currently receives.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral ankle and shin disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to evidence suggesting they may have worsened since the last VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various lower extremity and upper extremity conditions due to inadequate etiological opinions in previous VA addendum opinions. The issues are being returned for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus and ankle disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right ankle disability, sinusitis, and asthma due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.,Service treatment records show some medical issues during service but no chronic or persistent symptoms related to the claimed disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for right ankle arthropathy as secondary to a left leg disability and an initial rating of 10 percent for bilateral acquired flatfoot from September 23, 2011.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee and right ankle disorders due to new evidence received. The claim for tinnitus is granted.