Ankle decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his cervical and thoracolumbar spine, left ankle arthritis with pain on motion, hypertension, and posttraumatic headaches were denied. The effective dates for the 20 percent ratings assigned to these conditions have been confirmed.

The Board has granted service connection for IBS, but denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity and generalized arthralgia involving ankles, shoulders, knees and hips. The right inguinal hernia claim is also addressed.

The Veteran's low backache and right knee disability have been granted service connection.,The claim for residuals of right ankle injury (claimed as right foot condition) is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is related to his active military service.,Service connection was not established for a left ankle disability as there is no evidence of chronic left ankle arthritis within one year post-service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is likely due to his in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition. The claims of bilateral hearing loss disability and left ankle disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his claimed left ankle injury and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral ankle strain, a psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD), lumbar strain, hypertension, and migraines. The issues have been resolved in favor of the Veteran.

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

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent rating for residuals of a left ankle fracture was denied in May 1992, and the effective date assigned is October 17, 1991. The Board found that it is not factually ascertainable that the Veteran met the criteria for a 10 percent rating prior to March 24, 2009.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied in May 1987 and confirmed in May 1992 and May 1999. The Board found that it is not factually ascertainable that the Veteran met the criteria for a grant of service connection prior to March 24, 2009.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a deviated nasal septum, and various musculoskeletal disabilities (back, right wrist, left ankle, left shoulder, hips) as well as recurrent UTIs and a left heel spur. These conditions are presumed to have been incurred during the Veteran's service in the Gulf War theater of operations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and residuals of a right foot/ankle injury due to inadequate opinions in prior VA examinations. The Veteran is requested to provide any additional medical records, including MRI results from a private physician. An addendum opinion must be obtained by a VA examiner regarding the onset and etiology of his hypertension and right ankle/foot disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to noise exposure during service. Service connection is granted for these conditions. The Board also finds that his claimed foot disorders, low back disorder, hip disorder, knee disorder, and ankle disorder are not shown to be related to service.

The Board has reopened the claims for low back pain, hearing loss, tinnitus, and right ankle condition due to new evidence. The other issues remain in their current status.

The Board found that the Veteran's current degenerative changes of both left and right ankles are not related to service, as there is no clear evidence of a preexisting condition or aggravation during service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied the remaining issues of service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, a bilateral ankle disorder, and a left shoulder disorder. The Veteran is entitled to a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding these denied claims.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral foot/ankle disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his active service.

The Veteran seeks compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for a right ankle ulcer and resulting amputation of the right lower extremity, claiming negligence by VA medical personnel in 1995. The case is being remanded to obtain additional records and an opinion on whether the complications were due to fault.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for sinusitis and left ankle disability, finding that a 50% rating is warranted for sinusitis but not granting higher ratings. The left ankle disability was rated as 20%, with no increase granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic cardiovascular disability, initial compensable evaluations for residuals of right ankle sprain and right ingrown toenail, and an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for residuals of torn right hamstring. The appeal was not about service connection at all.