Ankle decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the cases of hypertension, left ankle ulceration and poor circulation in the left leg, and an acquired psychiatric disorder for further development. The ulnar nerve disorder case remains denied.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of various conditions, including right wrist, left ankle, tonsillar hypertrophy, lung disorder (claimed as silicosis), and sleep apnea. The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder with anxiety disorder was granted a 50 percent rating effective April 30, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition, right lower extremity condition (claimed as right leg, knee, ankle, and foot pain radiating from the low back), and hypertension have all been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's chronic right and left ankle sprains, finding that these conditions were incurred during his military service.

The Board has remanded all issues on appeal due to non-compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's surviving spouse is being provided another opportunity for the claims file to be updated and any necessary medical opinions obtained.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical opinions regarding the etiology of various disabilities, including cardiac disability, shoulder and ankle disabilities, hearing loss, tinnitus, kidney disability, peripheral neuropathy, and psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU due to incomplete VA examinations, including lack of joint testing for pain on both active and passive motion, and failure to provide an estimate of functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding his sleep apnea and scars. The TDIU claim is also raised.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to May 5, 2010, meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle disability, hypertension, and headaches were not incurred or aggravated during his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining a complete employment history and scheduling an appropriate VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient information provided by his private physician regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities. The examination must address whether any current disability is related to active service, including physical training and injuries sustained during service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, including arthritis and instability, is currently rated at 20 percent. The appeal for a higher rating has been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, left and right ankle osteoarthritis, and sinusitis, are found to be related to his military service. The claims for service connection are granted.

The Board has dismissed the claim of service connection for low back condition as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. The TDIU claim was denied because the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for low back condition as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. The TDIU claim was denied because the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and migraine headaches, do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding ratings for left wrist ganglion cyst post-operative, right wrist ganglion cyst, and left ankle fracture. The remaining issues of a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with chondromalacia (left knee disability), a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee chrondromalacia (right knee disability), and a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease (DJD) are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle and hip disabilities were denied as they did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, continuity of symptomatology was not established, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.