Ankle decisions — 2018

The Veteran's request for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right ankle sprain and dislocation status post surgery with scar was denied. The Board also found that the evidence did not support service connection for lumbosacral strain (low back pain) or sinus condition, as the VA examinations were inadequate.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with no evidence of a current diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss.,Regarding service connection for cardiovascular disease, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents and/or as secondary to PTSD, there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's current condition and any in-service exposures or service-connected conditions. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have not been met.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities are currently rated at 20 percent each, but the Board finds that they more nearly approximate marked limitation of motion. The case is remanded for further development.,The Veteran’s lumbar disability has worsened since his last VA examination in June 2016, necessitating a new evaluation to determine its current severity.

The Board is remanding the issues of service connection for left and right groin disabilities, hypertension and headache disabilities (secondary to service-connected lumbosacral spondylosis and degenerative disk disease), right ankle disability, left ankle disability, acquired psychiatric disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, right knee disability, and neck disability.,Further development is needed for these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee pain, ankle disorders, and foot disabilities. The Board also denied his claim for service connection for headaches secondary to hypertension.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied as he did not meet the criteria based on his service-connected disabilities.

Service connection is granted for left knee disability, left ankle disability, and right shoulder disability. The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus type 2 are rated as appropriate. Service connection for PTSD is denied.,Service connection is denied for tinea versicolor of the face and head, right elbow disability, and left wrist disability.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right ankle inversion injury and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms did not stem from his in-service injuries or conditions.

The Veteran's claims for left and right ankle disorders, as well as lumbar and right knee osteoarthritis, have been denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of these conditions.,For the period prior to September 8, 2017, the Veteran’s lumbar osteoarthritis was not shown to meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board has found that the Veteran's post-service treatment records are not available and have ordered additional efforts to locate them. The claims for service connection, new and material evidence to reopen, and initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss are all remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral elbow disability, COPD, and emphysema. The effective dates for granting service connection for left knee and left ankle disabilities were not granted earlier than May 3, 2016. The rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and denied service connection for a left ankle disability. Service connection was granted for hypertension due to the persistence of elevated blood pressure during service, despite an initial diagnosis after discharge. The denial of service connection for the left ankle disability is based on the lack of evidence linking current pain to in-service injuries.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted for left ankle degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine mild degenerative disc disease, and varicose veins of the legs. Service connection was denied for diabetes mellitus type 2 and peripheral neuropathy of the feet.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, but denied service connection for right ankle tarsal coalition calcaneonavicular and bilateral pes planus.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ankle and left ankle disabilities as secondary to residuals of a surgical repair of a right quadriceps tendon, which are compensated under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle condition as the evidence did not show a chronic disease that manifested to a compensable degree in service or within a presumptive period, and continuity of symptomatology was not established. The Veteran's reports of continuous symptoms since service were found not credible.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various disabilities, including cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, left shoulder arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with strain status post fusion, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease of the right hip, degenerative joint disease of the left hip, left knee arthritis, leg length discrepancy, chronic right ankle sprain with avulsion fracture and Morton’s neuroma, scar, anterior neck, nonlinear surgical scar, right shoulder, surgical scars, right shoulder, tension headaches, right inguinal neuropathy, status post inguinal hernia repair, attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with mood disorder, and bruxism with temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Additional examinations are needed to determine the current severity of these disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including depression (claimed as PTSD), left knee patellar femoral syndrome, and left ankle tenosynovitis, were denied earlier effective dates.,Claims for service connection for lumbar strain and tinnitus were also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right above the knee amputation. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including fibromyalgia, right shoulder disability, left arm and right arm disabilities, neck condition, right knee and ankle disabilities, bilateral ear condition, insomnia, abdominal pain, edema, skin irritation of the genitals, toe nail condition, and diabetes mellitus. The decision also reopened claims for service connection for some conditions.

The Veteran's back condition and left ankle injury are related to active service.,Entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder condition, bilateral pes planus, PTSD, depressive disorder, pseudofolliculitis barbae, hearing loss, tinnitus, degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is granted.