Ankle Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's current right ankle and foot conditions. The VA examiner needs to clarify if there is a current diagnosis of a broken right ankle or any related functional impairment, as well as whether the calcaneal heel spur is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum medical opinion regarding the service connection claim for a left ankle disorder. The decision on tinnitus remains denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right hand finger, left hand finger, right ankle, and left ankle disorders as well as a lumbar spine disorder due to additional development being required.

The Board denied entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic strain in the right and left ankles, finding that the Veteran's ankle disabilities are manifested by no more than moderate limited motion.

The Board has found that additional evidence was obtained after the issuance of previous statements of the case, and thus, a supplemental statement of the case must be issued.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle condition did not have its onset in service, was not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service, and is not otherwise related to service. As such, the claim for service connection for a left ankle condition is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ankle tendonitis and strain, finding that there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sinusitis, bilateral knee disabilities, and right ankle disability due to insufficient reasons and bases. The claim for eye disabilities is also remanded with specific inquiries regarding etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient examination reports and conflicting medical opinions. The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent, but his right and left ankle disabilities are not service-connected.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including ratings for his right inguinal hernia repair and ankle strain. The Veteran also requested a TDIU rating due to his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeal seeking to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal seeking entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability is dismissed.,Entitlement to a rating in excess of 80 percent for grand mal seizure disorder is denied.,Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a left (minor) shoulder strain, impingement syndrome and labral tear with superior labral anterior-posterior lesion is denied.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, acne with residual scarring, sleep apnea, tension headaches, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, left knee degenerative joint disease, right shoulder tendinitis, lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis, chronic right ankle strain, bilateral pes planus, right great toe injury, hypertension, left and right knee instability, and traumatic brain injury, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment since June 11, 2012.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are granted as service connection due to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is remanded for further review.,The Veteran's sleep disorder claim is denied.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for left ankle arthritis is granted, as the evidence shows a current disability (left ankle arthritis) and a link between that disability and his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to produce unemployability prior to October 7, 2020. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of TDIU prior to this date and grants the claim.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at a 20 percent rating as of February 9, 2015. The Veteran's left knee and leg disability is granted an initial rating of 20 percent.

The Board denied service connection for chest bursitis, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, hemorrhoids, gastritis, left hip bursitis, and foot fungus. The evidence did not establish a current disability for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, but his right ankle disability does not warrant an extraschedular rating. The claims for sleep apnea and entitlement to an extraschedular TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right knee disability, low back disability, and right ankle disability due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are now pending before VA for further review.