Ankle decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, surgical scars, and right knee condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left foot disabilities, which were noted at entrance into active service, underwent a permanent worsening beyond normal progression during service. Therefore, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and conducting VA examinations to assess the Veteran's disabilities. The issues of increased ratings for lumbar degenerative disc disease remain on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development on issues including service connection for a low back disability, increased ratings for knee and ankle disabilities, and psychiatric disability. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss, osteoarthritis of the ankles or knees, hypertension, or gastritis for VA benefits purposes. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address the etiology of the Veteran's ankle disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability, right ankle disability, and right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various joint disabilities, including arthritis of the hands, feet, legs, and shoulders, were granted. The conditions are considered to be due to natural progression or injury during service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which compensation may be awarded, and therefore service connection for residuals of right ankle sprain is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension and found new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The claims for muscle and joint aches, pulmonary disorder, sinus disorder, and liver disorder were not addressed as they are considered separate issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle and back disabilities are related to service, granting his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's right knee disability, dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, bronchial asthma, bilateral hip disability, left knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, back disability, neck disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are not service connected.

The Veteran's right little finger strain has been manifested by pain and a gap less than 1 inch wide between the fingertip and proximal transverse crease of the palm. The criteria for an initial compensable rating have not been met for any period.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's service connection claims and a need for new VA opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for her claimed bilateral foot, ankle, hip, and leg conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions and failure to address relevant history of injury to the feet.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship of the Veteran's current disabilities to service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings on an extraschedular basis for post-operative left ankle degenerative joint disease and ankylosis was denied by the Board.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine and left ankle disabilities were denied. The VA found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or ankylosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and assessments, particularly regarding his claimed low back disability, neck disability, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The asthma claim is also being remanded.