Ankle decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for neck arthritis. The issues of bilateral hip pain, knee pain, ankle pain, and headaches secondary to neck arthritis are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for gallstones and the Veteran's claimed upper-GI disability, urinary tract disability, and chronic fungal infection of the skin. The decision also granted reconsideration of the claim for a chronic fungal infection of the skin.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, including arthritis, chronic strain, status post repair, and residuals of fracture, is granted as service connected.,Bilateral plantar fasciitis was also granted as service connected.

The Board denied service connection for restless leg syndrome and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle strain. The appeals for genitourinary condition, right wrist tendonitis, and lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome are remanded.,Service connection was not granted for the claimed conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and initial evaluations are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension, left ankle sprain with degenerative joint disease, and exercise-induced anaphylaxis with allergic rhinitis are all granted. The rating for the left ankle sprain is increased to 10 percent. The Veteran's service-connected exercise-induced anaphylaxis with allergic rhinitis is granted at a higher rate of 100 percent prior to October 13, 2011. Service connection for sleep apnea remains pending and requires further evaluation.

The Veteran's ratings for his lumbar spine, left knee, and left ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,There is no credible evidence supporting the Veteran's claims regarding current disabilities in his knees and ankles.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right shoulder, right ankle, alopecia, or anxiety disorder disability.,Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bladder dysfunction, CAD, diabetes mellitus, Type II) are considered to have contributed substantially or materially to his death from COPD.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed right wrist, cervical spine, lower back, bilateral knee, and right ankle disorders as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, and his PTSD is rated at 30 percent prior to March 9, 2010. The ratings are denied.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and MDD), and erectile dysfunction are all granted. The right ankle disability is not service-connected due to lack of a current disability related to service. The acquired psychiatric disorders are service-connected as they are linked to an in-service stressor. The erectile dysfunction is also service-connected as it is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for gout of the bilateral knees and bilateral ankles, but denied service connection for gout of the bilateral elbows. The Veteran's gout in his knees and ankles is considered to be related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate development, including not scheduling a VA examination for service connection of a left ankle disability. The examiner must determine if there is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's current left ankle disability is related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's chronic frontal sinusitis is granted a 30 percent disability rating prior to January 12, 2015 and denied any higher. The Veteran is also granted TDIU.

Service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is denied.,Initial increased ratings for a left ankle disability and spine disability are dismissed.,Entitlement to an effective date earlier than July 16, 2015, for the grant of entitlement to a TDIU is denied.,Entitlement to an effective date earlier than July 16, 2015, for the grant of DEA benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 is denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the ratings for residuals of fracture, right fifth metacarpal; status post left ankle reconstruction; residual scar, left ankle; painful scars on left thigh and left ankle; and laceration scar, left thigh. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as his requests for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,There is no evidence of a current right or left ankle disability. The Veteran’s service treatment records do not show any ankle injuries.