Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or adaptive equipment only is denied due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the criteria. The claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound is remanded as VA medical records from November 2015 to the present are needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development and clarification of evidence.,Specifically, additional medical opinions are required regarding the etiology of various conditions including cervical spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar spinal degenerative disc disease, right shoulder disorder, right hip disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, fibromyalgia (Gulf War Illness), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) (Gulf War Illness), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (Gulf War Illness), and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher 50 percent rating is warranted due to very frequent and prolonged prostrating attacks.,For his right wrist disability, the Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating. The examination revealed limited range of motion with dorsiflexion being less than 15 degrees.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding various service connection claims, including for bilateral hearing loss, left arm condition, lumbar strain, left knee condition, left ankle condition, plantar fasciitis, anxiety condition, migraine headaches, jaw condition, lung condition, bronchitis, pneumonia, cervical strain, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, right arm condition, right wrist condition, left wrist condition, kidney stones, right hip condition, left hip condition, and right ankle condition. The appeals were dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remands. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned to VA for further action.

The Board partially vacated the April 2021 decision, granting a 20% rating for service-connected right ankle injury with degenerative changes without considering pre-service disability. The remaining issues are denied.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has not resulted in reduction of range of motion to less than 15 degrees dorsiflexion or less than 40 degrees plantar flexion, representing moderate limitation of motion. As a result, the claim for an increased evaluation is denied.

Entitlement to a higher rating for PTSD with associated depression and anxiety is denied. The Veteran's symptoms are more closely approximated by a 50 percent disability rating.,Entitlement to TDIU is denied as the evidence does not show that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right ankle and low back disabilities are being remanded for further examination and consideration. The AOJ will attempt to verify the period of active duty training in July 1992, obtain VA treatment records, and schedule a medical opinion regarding the relationship between current disabilities and service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to her service. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's recurrent right ankle sprain with arthritis is rated at 20 percent, effective December 1, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and opinion.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and right ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and opinion.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and opinion.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and opinion.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's left ankle tendonitis, finding that the evidence did not support a rating greater than 10 percent under either the old or new criteria.

The Board has remanded the appeal for further development and to obtain addendum opinions from a VA examiner regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including headaches, bilateral foot disorder, and bilateral ankle disorders. The issues of entitlement to SMC for aid and attendance and at the housebound rate prior to July 18, 2014 and after September 1, 2015 are also inextricably intertwined with these remanded issues.

The Veteran's claims for an initial higher rating for his right knee disability, and the reopening of service connection claims for left knee and right ankle disorders are remanded due to pending VA treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to the need to obtain additional records from his treatment at the Hampton VA Medical Center.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability, neck disability, headaches, left hand disability, and skin disabilities are not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied. The Board has also found that there is no current evidence of a left ankle disability or skin disability during the pendency of the claim. As such, the Veteran's claims for these conditions are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee and left ankle disabilities due to insufficient evidence, including lack of nexus opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the previous opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left ankle disability is related to service or secondary to his service-connected right ankle sprain.

The Veteran's right inguinal hernia was previously rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that there is no current hernia and no associated symptomatology. Therefore, a higher rating in excess of 10 percent for this condition prior to January 6, 2020 is denied.,The Veteran's right inguinal hernia was rated at 0 percent effective January 6, 2020 after the VA found that there is no current hernia. The Board determined that restoration of a 10 percent rating is not warranted as there is no current hernia or associated symptomatology.,The Veteran's right foot and ankle disability was rated at 10 percent. After reviewing recent medical records, the Board found that the condition has improved to the point where it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.