Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left testicular condition, left elbow condition, and left ankle condition is denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to his right ankle, left elbow, and right hip conditions. The examinations were not conducted as scheduled.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) as her service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

All back disability claims are granted with a 40% rating from September 1, 2004 to May 20, 2015. Claims for higher ratings for the right and left lower extremity radiculopathies are denied. Right ankle sprain is granted at 20% since May 16, 2015; left ankle sprain is also granted at 20% from that date.

The Veteran's type 2 diabetes mellitus is granted service connection based on direct evidence. The claim for left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left elbow disability, and right elbow disability are remanded due to lack of recent VA examinations. Service connection for psychiatric disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and the identification of outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, headaches, a left ankle condition, and an unspecified respiratory condition are granted. The remaining issues of service connection for the left ankle condition, unspecified respiratory condition (due to burn pit exposure or other environmental exposures), and low back condition are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various ankle, knee, and lumbar disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions. The examiner must consider the Veteran's lay statements and internet articles submitted by his representative.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow all forms of substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a right ankle, left ankle, right knee, or left knee disability that was incurred in service. The Board also found no evidence of hypertension manifesting within one year after separation from service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic joint pain, except for his right knee and ankle issues. The decision also granted direct service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine (claimed as chronic joint pain) and secondary service connection for right ankle and left knee pain due to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted a TDIU, but the case is remanded for further action on the issue of a rating in excess of 20 percent for the left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left ankle disability is denied as the maximum schedular rating of 20 percent has been assigned.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's left ankle disability. The examiner did not adequately discuss the Veteran's lay statements and concluded that his current condition may be related to post-service employment, which is considered speculative.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip degenerative arthritis and right ankle degenerative arthritis, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or aggravation by a pre-existing condition. The Board also found no continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disorder prior to January 17, 2016 is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left and right ankle disorders.

The Board denied service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, stomach condition, hypothyroidism, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle condition and varicose veins precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and any subsequent employment was marginal. Effective August 1, 2014, the criteria for a TDIU have been met.

The claim for a higher evaluation than 10 percent for tinnitus is dismissed.,The claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee, right elbow, and left ankle disabilities due to lack of examination. The claim for ear infection disability remains denied as new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.