Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to incomplete development and inadequate medical opinions. The issues include PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, lumbar spine disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various lower extremity disabilities, including right hip, left hip, right ankle, left ankle, and right foot disabilities, as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right ankle tendonitis, with instability due to partial thickness posterior talofibular tear, is restored to a 20 percent rating effective July 13, 2019. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to December 9, 2015 remains pending.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extra-schedular basis prior to January 27, 2011 as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of current diagnoses for hemorrhoids, left lower extremity radiculopathy/numbness, right ankle disability, or sinusitis. The Veteran's service records do not show any such conditions during his active duty.,For the right knee and left knee disabilities, the Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted for special monthly compensation.

The Veteran's photophobia and dry eyes are related to service, resulting in a grant of service connection. His PTSD is rated at 70 percent since March 14, 2011.

The Board has remanded the claim for a new VA examination and opinion to determine if the Veteran's left foot and ankle disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected right foot and right ankle disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities for right elbow, left elbow, left knee, right knee, left ankle, or right ankle. The service connection claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD has been granted, while claims for left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been remanded.

The Board finds that the Statement of the Case (SOC) was not properly mailed to the Veteran's representative, and thus remands the claims for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a left ankle disability, earlier effective date for a 10 percent evaluation for a left ankle disability, and compensable evaluation for status post atrial fibrillation ablation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include left ankle, left knee, right knee disabilities as well as a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and kidney disease.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches, back injury, neck injury, right hip injury, left ankle injury, ulcers, heart problems, kidney failure, head trauma, and seizures have been granted. The appeals are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine, right knee patellar tendonitis, left knee patellar tendonitis, right ankle strain, and left ankle strain disabilities have been rated based on their current manifestations. The Board has found that the criteria for increased ratings are not met in all cases.

The Veteran's right tibotaler joint arthritis and left ankle osteoarthritis of the tibiotalar joint are currently rated at 10 percent each, effective October 11, 2013 for the right ankle and February 8, 2017 for the left ankle. The Board has determined that these ratings are appropriate as there is no evidence of ankylosis or other disabling conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including determining if the Veteran's right ankle disorder is related to her service-connected right calcaneal stress fracture.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for bilateral achilles tendon disorder and bilateral ankle disorder due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and sustaining employment, as his combined disability rating was only 60 percent.