Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as a right ankle disability, all secondary to service-connected bilateral heel calcaneal stress fractures. The VA is instructed to provide an advisory medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, granting entitlement to TDIU. The issues of service connection for left knee and right ankle disabilities are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The case is being remanded for additional development to address the severity and manifestations of the Veteran's right knee and right ankle traumatic arthritis, including any additional functional impairment during flare-ups and after repeated use over time. The examiner will also determine if these disabilities played a role in the Veteran's fall risk problems.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate July 2017 VA medical examination and opinion, which did not provide a well-reasoned explanation for the findings regarding left lower extremity numbness. The Veteran's claim is now pending with instructions to obtain a new examination.

The Board has denied service connection for neck, back and right ankle disorders as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right foot disability.,Service connection was also denied for a left ankle disorder (strain).

The Board denied service connection for meralgia paresthetica of the left lateral cutaneous nerve and right ankle disability, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent prior to July 18, 2019 and granted a 30 percent rating from that date. The case is being remanded for further action on the total disability based on unemployability claim.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sinusitis was denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of sinusitis and concluded that the Veteran did not have a current disability related to his in-service duties.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder, left wrist, right wrist, left hip, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA medical opinions in the March 2019 examination report.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left ankle disability pre-existed service and if it was aggravated by his service-connected knee disabilities. The case is being returned for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's cataracts were denied as the evidence did not show that they began during service or are related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The chloracne was granted as it became manifest within one year of his separation from service and is presumed due to herbicide exposure.,Asbestosis and COPD were both denied as there was no evidence showing that the conditions began during service or are related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for cervical strain and right ankle strain are denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on his service-connected conditions, as he did not have ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his adjustment disorder and physical conditions like sleep apnea, headaches, joint pain, and neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from January 28, 2014 to June 6, 2016.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain is granted a 20% rating from March 8, 2016. His initial ratings for IVDS and radiculopathy are granted as requested. TDIU is granted from January 16, 2013 to March 8, 2016. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right elbow condition, right ear hearing loss, and right ankle condition due to inadequate VA examinations. The new examinations are needed to address whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as right and left knee disabilities, due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot arthrosis with plantar fasciitis is alleged to have caused or aggravated his current ankle and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's left ankle fracture is rated at 20 percent disabling, the maximum schedular rating for limited motion of the ankle. The Board denied a higher rating and also denied TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities not precluding him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal issues, respiratory disability (COPD), bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disability, hypertension, and sleep apnea have been reopened. However, the Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed. New evidence has reopened the claim of service connection for coronary artery disease, but it remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee, foot, and ankle conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.