Ankle decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral vision loss, left ankle pain, and headaches due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for missing VA treatment records and additional National Guard service records. The claims will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Veteran does not meet the eligibility criteria for Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) education benefits due to insufficient active duty service and discharge from National Guard/Reserves.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and allergic dermatitis. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability, bilateral foot disability (pes planus), and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, left knee, right knee, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and left ankle conditions. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in or related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including left hand, right hand, right ankle, bilateral hearing loss, respiratory condition, and muscle condition are all denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left ankle and heart disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions and lack of clarity in the examination reports.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including atrophy of left thigh muscles, cervical spine disorder, right and left knee patellar strains, right ankle disorder, left foot disorder, right great toe hallux valgus and hallux rigidus, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), and diabetes mellitus. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left ankle disabilities, as well as his service-connected right and left leg shin splints, require additional examination to determine their current severity. The case is therefore being remanded.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has been rated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board finds that a higher rating of 20 percent is warranted due to marked limitation of motion. The Veteran will be scheduled for an examination to determine if his condition during flares is akin to ankylosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left ankle disorder was dismissed as the Veteran did not file a Notice of Disagreement (NOD).,VA denied the Veteran's tuberculosis claim in March 1996, and it became final. The Veteran has not submitted new and material evidence to reopen this claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development, specifically a lack of VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's other service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is required to report for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the service connection claims for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD). The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current left ankle/achilles disability is related to service or any other condition.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current right ankle disability separate and distinct from the service-connected bilateral pes planus (also claimed as bilateral plantar fasciitis). Therefore, the claim for service connection for a right ankle disability is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for left ankle disability due to the lack of evidence of a current diagnosis. The lower back disability claim is remanded for additional development and medical inquiry.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and secondary service connection are remanded due to the need for updated examinations to assess the current severity of his knee disabilities, as well as their impact on other disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral ankle disabilities was denied in March 1985. New evidence has been submitted, relating to a current disability and unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The Board finds this new evidence is material and grants the petition to reopen the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and a TDIU are being remanded due to the inextricability of these issues. The VA Form 21-8940 must be completed and returned.

The Board has ordered new examinations to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right hip and right ankle disabilities due to incomplete examination reports. The initial ratings for these conditions remain on appeal.