Ankle decisions — 2018

The Veteran's hypertension and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis are granted service connection. The Veteran's TBI, headaches, left knee disorder, and cervical spine disorder are denied.,Service connection is granted for hypertension and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis. Service connection is denied for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), headaches, a left knee disorder, and a cervical spine disorder.

The claims of increased ratings for right ankle and right foot disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical inquiry.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. Further examination is required to determine if any diagnosed disorders are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his right foot condition and right ankle fracture due to a lack of VA examinations, and requests for updated treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability due to the absence of evidence of current disability and insufficient medical opinion. Service connection was also denied for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and cardiac disability (including an aortic aneurysm) due to lack of in-service event, illness, or injury.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for residuals of a left tibia fracture is denied.,An initial 10 percent evaluation, but no higher, for the scar associated with the total knee replacement is granted.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle arthritis and gout, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not proximately caused by or aggravated by her service-connected right ankle strain.,The Board also denied service connection for right wrist arthritis and gout, concluding that these conditions were not related to her service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic low back pain and chronic right ankle pain, finding that these conditions began during service and are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted service connection for lower back degenerative disc disease, left ankle arthritis, right ankle arthritis, and left ear hearing loss. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disorders due to secondary service-connected bilateral foot hallus valgus. A new VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or secondary to the service-connected condition.

The claims for service connection for a right knee condition, an ankle condition, and hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The claim for a left knee condition is also being remanded.

The claim for service connection for left-shoulder tendonitis, to include as secondary to service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain is denied. The claim for a compensable disability rating for right-tibial stress fracture, involving the right ankle is remanded.

The Veteran's right knee and ankle disabilities are being remanded for additional opinions regarding whether they are secondary to his service-connected radiculopathy of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee disabilities and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted eligibility for specially adapted housing due to the severity of his service-connected disabilities affecting his lower extremities. However, as he is now eligible for this benefit, the claim for a special home adaptation grant is dismissed.

The application to reopen the claims for service connection for TBI and left ankle disorder is granted. The applications for increased ratings of right shoulder rotator cuff tear and dislocation, lumbar spine strain, spinal stenosis and degeneration of the intervertebral disc are remanded. Effective date prior to August 28, 2013, claims for service connection for right shoulder rotator cuff tear and dislocation and osteoarthritis, and lumbar spine strain, spinal stenosis and degeneration of the intervertebral disc are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need to consider additional VA records, including a recent VA examination report.

The appeals for service connection of various conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal for these issues.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination as there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's current right foot and ankle conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person, thus denying an increased level of SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, knee, and lumbosacral strain disabilities as secondary to a right ankle disability. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection due to lack of continuity of symptomatology since service.