Ankle decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and treatment records, requiring additional VA examinations and updates.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, which includes sprain and osteochondritis dissecans, is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 20 percent. The Board found that there was no evidence of ankylosis or malunion of the tibia or fibula to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist condition, left ankle condition, skin condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression) due to incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for flatfoot and the issues of increased ratings for bilateral great toe onychomycosis, PTSD and allergic rhinitis have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diarrhea (claimed as irritable bowel syndrome) has been granted.

The Board denied service connection and all rating claims, including TDIU, for the claimed conditions. The Veteran's diabetes is not related to his military service. His acquired mental disorder, left knee disorder, heart disorder, right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and right middle finger disorder are also not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, right knee, and right ankle disorders due to inadequate examination reports and failure to consider secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right knee disability, left ankle disability, tinnitus, sleep apnea, or skin condition of the total body that began during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The skin condition of the total body is considered secondary to his service-connected idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his left ankle disability has been remanded due to the failure to consider actual improvement in his ability to function under ordinary conditions.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD with anxiety and depression) is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral ankle disorder and alopecia have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to service.,The Veteran's claim for sleep disorder, secondary to service-connected tinnitus and joint pain, has been remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the existence and etiology of any such disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection due to lack of evidence showing a claim was filed prior to November 27, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound due to a lack of an appropriate VA examination. The examiner must clarify if the Veteran is limited in his ability to bathe and toilet as a result of service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left ankle tendonitis, finding that there is no more than moderate limitation of motion in either ankle.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, chronic gastritis, flat feet, left foot heel spur, right foot heel spur, bilateral plantar fasciitis, cervical strain with degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral strain, left ankle disability (status post left ankle fracture, status post open reduction internal fixation with degenerative arthritis), right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. The claims were remanded for additional examinations and to obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a skin disorder due to circumcision is dismissed. The claim for PTSD is denied. The appeal for respiratory disorder (asbestos exposure) is denied. The appeal for sleep disorder is denied. The appeal for headaches is denied. An initial rating of 20 percent for left ankle degenerative joint disease is granted. Appeals for coronary artery disease, hypertension, corns of the bilateral feet, and hemorrhoids are all denied.

Service connection is denied for a right hip disability, right ankle disability, pes planus, GERD, and bruxism.,The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hip, knee, and ankle conditions due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's current combined disability rating of 60% allows him to be eligible for a TDIU, but he needs to provide information about his employment history and participation in VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation program.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for 'degenerative disease of the whole body,' right shoulder degenerative joint disease, and an increased rating for right ankle degenerative joint disease. The claims for high cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, type II are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for right ankle and left knee disabilities, fissure in ano (perianal abscess), and skin disability due to inadequate examinations conducted over five years ago. The Veteran will need new examinations to address his symptoms and functional impairments.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of fibromyalgia, left ankle fracture, and mitral valve prolapse due to insufficient examination reports and lack of information regarding employment impact.