Ankle decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and depressive disorder, rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to August 28, 2015.

All claims for service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.,The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability related to any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's GERD and cervical spine pain are granted service connection. The bilateral foot disability, right shoulder, knee, and ankle scars, and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome are all granted initial ratings of 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his in-service injuries or diseases.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, and the criteria for TDIU have been met since November 20, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disability, characterized as arthritis of the left ankle, is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities including left shoulder, right shoulder, back, left knee, and bilateral eye conditions due to a lack of current diagnoses or functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient analysis regarding whether the Veteran's cardiac disability is related to his service-connected chronic sinusitis and/or TCE exposure. The Veteran needs to provide updated VA and private treatment records, and a medical opinion should be obtained.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased ratings on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to the inadequacy of the April 2013 VA examination and the need for new opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle, right hip, left knee, and low back conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his non-psychiatric service-connected disabilities. Other claims are also being considered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to report for VA examinations and because of an earlier effective date claim. The claims will be remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right ankle disability, pes planus of the right foot, hammertoe of the right foot, and scars on the right foot are all rated as they currently stand without any higher ratings being granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for left shoulder disability, back pain, cervical spine disability, right ankle disability, and lung disability. The remand requires further examination and opinion regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and left ankle arthritis, prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment due to his physical limitations and mental health issues.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his left ankle and foot fusion disability.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings and secondary service connection for various disabilities, including lower back pain, left ankle, left hip, right hip, and right knee disabilities, are denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions that these conditions were caused by his service-connected right ankle disability.

This decision grants initial compensable ratings for gout and degenerative arthritis, right ankle prior to April 8, 2016, and from April 8, 2016. It also grants an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for gout and degenerative arthritis, left ankle. The decision denies initial compensable ratings for degenerative arthritis, left shoulder prior to April 8, 2016, and from April 8, 2016, as well as a higher rating for right shoulder rotator cuff tear with degenerative arthritis.,Entitlement to an increased initial rating in excess of 30 percent for residual scars, pilonidal cyst excision, low back, coccyx area, right shoulder x4, and bilateral feet is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle and knee disabilities, as well as headaches of unknown etiology and general weakness. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of his left ankle and right knee disabilities has been dismissed.,An initial rating higher than 10 percent prior to August 9, 2016 for the Veteran’s left ankle disability is denied. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU based on his service-connected left ankle and right knee disabilities is remanded.