Ankle decisions — 2018

The Veteran's left ankle disability is considered a subsequent manifestation of his already service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with osteoarthritis.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability and found that the Veteran's current left knee condition is at least as likely as not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right knee disability. The claims for PTSD, sleep apnea, and right ankle disability were withdrawn by the Veteran prior to decision.

The Veteran's sinusitis is found to be related to her active service.,Her right hip strain and degenerative joint disease with sciatic nerve involvement are found to be secondary to her service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine.,Her left ankle strain, osteoarthritis, and osteopenia are found to be secondary to her service-connected bilateral pes planus.,Her left shoulder strain and osteoarthrosis are found to be secondary to her service-connected cervical spine stenosis with degenerative disc disease.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected right and left ankle disabilities were granted effective from June 24, 2013. The RO found that the increase in severity of the disabilities occurred after the date of receipt of the claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including cervical spine, lumbar spine, right shoulder, hip and knee conditions, ankle, wrist, plantar fasciitis, and migraine headaches have been granted. The claim for psychiatric disability was denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 27, 2007, for a 10 percent rating for service-connected left ankle disability is denied as there was no formal or informal claim before this date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, degenerative joint disease of the right hip, left hip, right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, cervical spine, and lumbar spine. However, it has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), chest pain, and left ankle disability. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected cyclothymic disorder with insomnia is granted, and he is assigned a 10 percent rating effective July 3, 1997. The Veteran's muscle spasms and joint pain are found to be due to his service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral shoulder degenerative joint disease, bilateral lateral epicondylitis, and ORIF of the right ankle.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right ankle disability, as well as the need for a statement of the case on the denial of service connection for a right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for various conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of any unadjudicated formal or informal claim prior to July 5, 2007.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 60 percent, and he is granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied an extraschedular rating for right ankle instability based on the combined impact of multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to his claimed bilateral ankle disorder, hepatitis, or meningitis. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 17, 2014, for the grant of service connection for a right ankle disorder is pending. The issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error in previous rating decisions is also pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle disability is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left ankle disability is unrelated to his ankle injury in service or other in-service events, and thus denied his claim for entitlement to service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral foot disorders of pes planus and plantar fasciitis, as well as a bilateral ankle disorder of equinus of the ankles. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered to be related to his military service.