Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from March 5, 2018. The Board has also remanded the case for an extraschedular TDIU determination prior to March 5, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case for referral to the Director of Compensation for consideration of a TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to the Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability was granted with an effective date of January 23, 1981. The rating assigned is 10% from that date to July 25, 2017 for the left foot disability and from April 25, 2016 onwards.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to additional medical records being added to his case file since the most recent Supplemental Statements of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has remanded the issue of an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for major depressive disorder, but denied the TDIU claim as the Veteran was employed full-time prior to March 20, 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for insomnia disorder, GAD, right ankle condition, and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of VA examinations and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran is required to provide evidence of his Reserve service periods and undergo further examination by appropriate clinicians.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cyst of mouth, left ankle disability, right lateral epicondylitis, and right wrist sprain due to additional development needed.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease have been granted a 20 percent rating prior to November 14, 2014. A higher rating is denied for the entire appeal period. The right ankle disability has not met the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral ankle tendinitis, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ankle disorders have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current functional impairment.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder disability, sleep apnea, right ankle degenerative joint disease, bilateral degenerative joint disease of the hands, irritable bowel syndrome, and erectile dysfunction (secondary to PTSD) have been reopened. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 30, 2009.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, bilateral ankle disorder, right knee disorder, and sleep apnea. The case will be remanded to obtain VA medical opinions on these issues.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, including the residuals of a fracture and degenerative arthritis, was rated at 20 percent prior to October 19, 2015. The Board found that the evidence supported a finding of marked limitation of motion in the left ankle.

Right Elbow Scar service connection is dismissed.,Service connection for Right Ankle Osteoarthritis and Right Foot Disability is granted.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to clarify the etiology of the Veteran's left ear hearing loss, prostatitis, ED, TB residuals and lung nodules/polyps, left ankle stress fracture, left ankle arthritis, and chronic pain all over.,The Veteran is being asked to provide more information regarding his exposure to asbestos aboard the USS Ponce LPD 15. He is also requested to clarify when and where he served for two months and seven days as documented in his DD Form 214.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle arthritis is related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities and/or migraines, as well as a need for additional development regarding the Veteran's TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for lumbar spine surgical scar associated with degenerative arthritis of the spine and herniated disc, status post spinal fusion is denied. The claims for service connection for right foot disorder and right ankle disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and left ankle lateral ligament laxity disabilities have been granted a compensable rating of 10 percent each.