Ankle Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the claims due to insufficient medical opinions and need for additional development.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of TMJ, as well as examinations for left sided sciatica, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, right ankle sprain with instability, sinusitis, status post lumbar spine scar, and spermatocele, status post vasectomy. The claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and examination.

The Veteran's service-connected knee, ankle, and foot disabilities have been granted earlier effective dates of March 1, 2011.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hip, knee, and ankle conditions are remanded for further development to determine their etiology and whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of private treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for painful joints and bilateral eye disabilities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.,Specifically, the VA examiner determined that the Veteran’s current joint pain and eye disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to pending VA examinations for the service-connected ankle disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disorder and remanded the issues of rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine; rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy; and entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, low back, and lung disorders are not related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral elbow disability, right ankle disability, and bilateral shoulder disability. The Veteran's claims for these conditions were not supported by evidence showing they occurred during his period of active service.,Service connection was also denied for a neck disability and bilateral knee disabilities (including residuals of left and right meniscal tears). These claims were based on the absence of medical documentation linking current disabilities to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for the following: obtaining VA treatment records from January 2020 to present, scheduling a VA examination to assess his right ankle disability, and adjudicating his secondary service connection claim.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability and bilateral foot disability (claimed as fallen arches/pes planus) due to the lack of evidence showing a current disability related to service, including any chronicity or aggravation during service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, but has remanded them for further development and examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disorder, left ankle disorder, neck disorder, right hand disorder, and residuals of tailbone injury due to new and material evidence. The claims are now considered on their merits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA examination and insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional development of records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right leg gunshot wound, contributed to his death from heart failure. The decision grants service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder is not related to service and denied his claim. The right elbow pronation, left ankle sprain, right elbow calcific tendinosis, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee patellar bone spur claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since April 25, 2008.