Ankle Board decisions

The Board has granted a TDIU effective December 7, 2017 for the Veteran's service-connected MDD and right ankle disorder. The earlier effective date for MDD remains at May 23, 2013, as no earlier effective date is available under applicable law.

The Board denied service connection for right knee disability, and remanded the cases of left ankle and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle and hip disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete record review.

The Veteran's claim for right lower extremity edema has been withdrawn.,The Board has remanded the claims for impaired short-term memory loss, left lower extremity edema, left hip disability, left leg torn ligaments, left knee disability, and service-connected tendonitis of the left ankle.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder and left ankle disabilities, including due to flare-ups.

The Board has granted service connection for DJD of the left ankle. The issue of service connection for JAK2 myeloproliferative disease, as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities as they are conditions that onset during his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left ankle disability, finding that there was no indication of more than moderate limitation of motion. The evidence showed dorsiflexion to 5 degrees and plantar flexion to 25 degrees with pain noted on examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete service treatment records. The VA must conduct additional searches for these records and provide a response in writing if they are found to be unavailable.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, ankle, and knee disorders due to insufficient medical evidence. The claims are being returned for further development including VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected low back strain, right ankle disabilities, and left ankle disabilities are worse than currently rated. The claims have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's increased ratings claims for bilateral ankle disabilities and SMC claim based on loss of use of feet have been denied by the Board.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for depression, left foot disability, and bilateral hand disability has been granted.,New evidence shows that the Veteran experienced pain in her hands which can constitute a disability. Her claim of service connection for bilateral hand disability is reopened.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board finds that the Veteran's PTSD renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot pes planus and left foot pes planus. The claims of service connection for left shin splints, left ankle disability, and left shoulder disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now pending before the Board. The VA will provide further examinations to determine if he has current diagnoses of these conditions, which may be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is not rated higher than 20 percent due to limitation of motion.,The Veteran's right ankle disability does not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has requested a VA ankle examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right ankle disability, including during flare-ups. The examiner is instructed to provide ranges of motion and address additional loss of function due to painful motion, weakened motion, excess motion, fatigability, incoordination, or on flare up.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disorder and left ankle impairment, both claimed as secondary to a service-connected left knee condition. The remand is due to inadequate medical opinions and missing medical records.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability as the Veteran did not have evidence of an in-service injury or incident that could be linked to these conditions.,The Board also denied service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to active service.