Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and evaluation, including a review of her medications' impact on her symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, but denied service connection for a right ankle disability. The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability is at least as likely as not related to his military service and denied the claim of a right ankle disability due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ankle arthritis/gout, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current disability and service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new examination is required.

The Veteran's hypertension, right-hand disorder, left-hand disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder are not related to his military service.,The Veteran does not have a current groin area strain for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development. The initial rating for his left ankle disability remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he has the education and work experience to perform non-physically demanding jobs.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 11, 2015, for service connection of right ankle and right knee disabilities. The appeals for bilateral pes planus, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), low back disability, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), skin disorder other than PFB, right ankle disability, and right knee disability are pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected right knee and ankle strains, as well as his claim for a TDIU prior to December 10, 2014. The appeals are currently pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hip, shoulder, and ankle conditions. The evidence did not establish a nexus between her current disabilities and military service.

The Veteran's non-allergic rhinitis is not rated as compensable, but his right and left ankle disabilities are granted.,Service connection for the Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities has been established due to their onset during service.,A compensable rating for non-allergic rhinitis cannot be assigned.

The Veteran's right ankle condition is remanded due to the lack of an adequate etiology opinion in his VA examination report.,The Veteran's left eye condition is remanded as there are new diagnoses and no opinion on its relationship to service-connected scars.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, and the initial rating of 10% for depressive disorder was also denied. The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is now rated at 50%, effective May 12, 2017. Service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies, left upper and lower extremity radiculopathies, and left ankle conditions were all denied.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, including posttraumatic arthritis and Achilles tendinopathy, has worsened since the last examination. The Board finds a new VA examination is necessary to properly evaluate his condition.

The Board has determined that new VA examinations are necessary to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected left humerus, right ankle and scar disabilities due to their recent worsening.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, left wrist condition, right ankle condition and low back condition are being remanded for further development.,The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran’s sleep apnea is related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various hip, knee, ankle, and shin splints disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from June 2020 at John Cochran VAMC in St. Louis, Missouri must be obtained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to additional development being required, including verification of alleged exposure to herbicides and lead paint during service.

The Board has determined that the AOJ did not properly verify the Veteran's periods of active duty service and did not secure an opinion regarding the likely etiology of the claimed right ankle condition. The case is being remanded to address these issues.