Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient initial adjudication of certain issues and for an addendum opinion on his TBI residuals.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability and sleep apnea appeals have been dismissed.,Service connection for acid reflux and constipation to include on a secondary basis has also been dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right knee arthritis, left ankle sprain, and right ankle sprain due to a lack of proper evaluation criteria in prior examinations.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for a cervical spine disorder and residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) to include a headache disorder, as well as the SMC and SMP claims. The issues are being remanded due to conflicting opinions regarding whether the Veteran's falls were caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for his right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability, including secondary to his service-connected left ankle disease or injury. The Board found that there was no current evidence of a right ankle disability and that it did not manifest during the appeal period.

The Board has found that further development of the record is necessary for proper adjudication of these claims, including obtaining treatment records and arranging for examinations. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being remanded to allow for a determination on their current severity.

The Board has granted service connection for a deviated septum and denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of increased ratings for left and right ankle disabilities, bilateral plantar fasciitis, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis are remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for right ankle, left ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and clarifying whether certain conditions are related to the service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory condition other than sarcoidosis and sleep apnea, as well as his right wrist disorder and bilateral ankle conditions. The evidence did not support separate diagnoses or a causal link to service.,The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence was against finding that the Veteran had a separately diagnosable respiratory condition other than his service-connected sarcoidosis and sleep apnea, and denied his claims for right wrist disorder and bilateral ankle conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current respiratory disability and denied service connection for this condition. The issues of service connection for left knee and bilateral ankle disabilities are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy, femoral nerve. However, several issues remain unresolved and need to be remanded.,Service connection is being remanded for instability and swelling of the left ankle, instability and swelling of the right ankle, and bilateral shin splints.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left ankle disability, including whether it is related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's hypertension has been granted service connection. The left hip, right ankle, and knee disorders have not been found to be related to service.,Obstructive sleep apnea was also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is granted as service connected. The right and left ankle disabilities are denied as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right hip disorders, as well as left and right ankle disorders, all secondary to service-connected bilateral plantar callus formation. The issues are being remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records and the need for an addendum opinion addressing lay testimony of chronic symptoms since service.

The Veteran's left knee instability is now rated at 20 percent effective February 7, 2021. All other claims remain denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left hip degenerative joint disease and left ankle sprain prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to October 4, 2017. The Board has granted a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has granted service connection for Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) disease and bilateral ankle disability as secondary to CMT, finding that the Veteran's preexisting condition was aggravated by active duty service.