Ankle decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service records and arranging for medical examinations to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities. The issues include reopening a claim for low back disability, as well as claims for right foot, ankle, knee, and heart disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI is related to his in-service parachute accident, and service connection for this condition is granted. Other issues on appeal are remanded.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed for the Veteran's right wrist, ankle and knee disabilities, as well as his GERD. The issues of service connection for left knee and ankle disabilities have also been remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to August 17, 2009 were denied as his service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating.

The appeal is being remanded to provide a VA examination that complies with certain requirements identified by the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court) during the period of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbosacral spine intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative changes and right ankle degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's thoracic spine, left shoulder, left knee, left ankle, right ankle/foot, eye, stomach, leg numbness, and heart disabilities are not service-connected. The psychiatric disability is also not service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle ganglion cyst, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral pes planus, and headaches have been granted. The Veteran is also assigned a 10% disability rating for his headaches.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, low back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right ankle disorder have been granted. The appeals are based on direct evidence of a link between the conditions and military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evidentiary development due to the need for a new VA examination of his left ankle disability.

The Veteran's former attorney is entitled to direct payment of $1,276.63 for services provided in connection with his dependent allowance award.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his left ankle disability was granted, with an effective date of August 2, 2017. The current rating is 20 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle and foot disorder, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to his current condition. The Board also found that any current disability is not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was rated at 10 percent prior to February 16, 2018 and increased to a non-compensable rating thereafter. The Board denied entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for the right ankle disability prior to February 16, 2018 and denied TDIU.

The Veteran's service records do not show any treatment for left shoulder, right shoulder, cervical spine, left hip, right hip, left knee, right knee, left ankle, or foot disorders during his active duty. The Board finds no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.,The Veteran's service records do not show any treatment for left shoulder, right shoulder, cervical spine, left hip, right hip, left knee, right knee, left ankle, or foot disorders during his active duty. The Board finds no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right ankle disability. The claims of service connection for right and left foot disorders are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left ankle disability that was incurred in or caused by active service. The case is being remanded for further development, including an examination to determine if the Veteran has bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus related to service exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in total occupational and social impairment prior to December 29, 2014.,Since December 29, 2014, the Veteran has experienced significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his claimed conditions, as well as further development of other issues.