Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate for rating purposes, and therefore remanded several issues including service connection for lower back disability, bilateral wrist condition, right elbow disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and PFB. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, which was initially rated at 20 percent prior to March 30, 2017 and now rated at 40 percent from June 2, 2017, is granted. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has found that the Veteran must be afforded VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed low back, cervical spine, right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, right foot, and left foot disabilities. The appeal is remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain is rated at 10 percent, and the Board found that a higher rating was not warranted.,For PTSD prior to November 22, 2019, the Veteran is granted an initial 70 percent rating. For PTSD thereafter, the claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle, right ankle, and back disabilities are not service-connected as they were not caused or aggravated by his active military service.

The Board has remanded the claim due to an inadequate VA examination in October 2019, and additional medical comment is needed regarding the severity of the Veteran's right ankle disability.

The claims for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for right ankle disability and service connection for a left knee disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical inquiry.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has decided to remand this case for further development. The VA examiner needs clarification on whether their inability to provide ranges of motion estimates during flare-ups or with repeated use over time is due to an individual inability or a limitation of the medical community.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The Veteran's current ankle conditions are not related to his military service.,Service connection for OSA is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine its relationship to service.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities have been rated at 10 percent since December 30, 2014. The Board has determined that the current ratings are inadequate and remanded for further development.

The Veteran's low back, right ankle, left ankle, migraine headaches, left wrist, and left foot disabilities are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for amenorrhea and dysplasia is remanded due to conflicting evidence.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding service connection for arthritis, other than left knee, and right ankle condition. The appeal as to these issues is dismissed.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left wrist condition is denied.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is granted, as it is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD, asthma, and orthopedic conditions.,The Veteran's claims for lumbosacral spine strain with degenerative arthritis and right ankle condition are remanded for further development.,Service connection for a right ankle condition is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for temporary 100 percent evaluations for bilateral knee disabilities, service connection for various conditions, and increased ratings have been dismissed.,Claims to reopen service connection for right Achilles' tendonitis, right hand condition, left wrist condition, right wrist condition, left ankle condition, left ring finger fracture, bilateral testicular pain, scar of the right occipital temporal area, left arm scar, seborrheic keratosis, fibromyalgia, IBS, diabetes mellitus, left elbow condition, gum damage and missing teeth, bilateral dry eyes, hyperlipidemia, and right elbow condition have been dismissed.,Claims for higher initial ratings and effective dates prior to July 6, 2018 for service connection of cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed.,The claims for revision based on CUE in the reduction of ratings for left shoulder sprain with degenerative changes, left knee degenerative joint disease, and right knee degenerative joint disease have been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic right ankle sprain with instability, right great toe hallux rigidus with traumatic arthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, and traumatic arthritis of the right hip as these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected condition.,The Veteran's current right foot and hip disabilities are believed to be caused by his now service-connected right ankle sprain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disease and bilateral ankle sprain with talus osteochondral lesion, finding no evidence of a current disability or causal relationship to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury and Left Ankle Condition due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back disorder, left knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and bilateral foot disorders. The VA examiner's opinions are inadequate as they do not address the Veteran's contentions regarding her work history and post-service symptoms.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of a left ankle injury sustained in November 2007, alleging that VA failed to conduct MRI testing until approximately one year after the initial injury caused or worsened his disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and readjudication due to incomplete service treatment records, including those from her National Guard, Reserve, and Federal active duty service. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to obtain these records and provide new opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, bilateral feet disabilities, and left ankle disability.