Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for low back strain, left hand strain, right shoulder strain, left shoulder strain, neck strain, and left ankle strain due to insufficient medical opinions and missing service treatment records.

An increased rating of 60 percent for coronary artery disease is granted from December 6, 2011.,Service connection for a skin condition (fibromatous type changes and keloid) is granted. The Veteran's current disability includes bilateral cataracts and glaucoma secondary to diabetes mellitus.,PTSD claim dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.,Bilateral hearing loss claim dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.,Service connection for bilateral cataracts, bilateral glaucoma, kidney infection, bilateral shoulder pain, bilateral knee pain, bilateral ankle pain, obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and lower back pain is remanded. Service connection for sciatica is also remanded.,An increased rating for diabetes mellitus secondary to cataracts and glaucoma is remanded.,Service connection for kidney infection is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral shoulder pain is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral knee pain is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral ankle pain is remanded.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is remanded.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is remanded.,Service connection for lower back pain is remanded.,Service connection for sciatica is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle, right ankle, and low back disorders. The positive opinions from a private orthopedic surgeon found these conditions were caused by active duty service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for insomnia, depression, a left ankle disorder, migraine headaches, and a right ankle disorder have been dismissed. The issues of service connection for migraine headaches and a right ankle disorder are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and further development is needed before service connection for a left ankle disability can be decided.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided are inadequate for rating purposes, necessitating further development to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to issues with scheduling VA examinations at his correctional facility. The appeals are related and must be addressed together.

The Board has remanded four issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities: PTSD, low back strain with degenerative changes, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and recurrent right ankle sprain. The remand requires VA to obtain treatment records from the Taylor Street Vet Center in Washington, D.C., and to schedule the Veteran for examinations by appropriate clinicians to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right ankle, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination in July 2016. The Veteran testified that he self-treated his conditions after active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected right ankle sprain and left knee strain and instability is remanded due to inconsistencies in the May 2021 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and insufficient rationale in the previous decision.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for left ankle disability, including degenerative joint disease (DJD), was granted. Service connection is also granted for this condition. The appeals for back and neck injuries were withdrawn by the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left plantar fasciitis, as well as a new ankle disability, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of right ankle injury, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of right ankle injury, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his in-service injuries and is more likely due to a 2015 injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of right ankle injury, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his in-service injuries. The Board concluded that the current arthritis is not related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances for a DJO left knee brace and an Arizona AFO right foot boot, finding insufficient evidence of wear or tear to his clothing.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left ankle disability, back disability, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, and left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted. The rating assigned is 60 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted for a left knee condition, right knee condition, degenerative changes in the thoracolumbar spine, and left shoulder condition.,Service connection is also denied for a right little toe condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for clarification on whether the Veteran's hypothyroidism manifested as myxedema during the appeal period, specifically since February 2014.