Ankle decisions — 2018

The Veteran's Major Depressive Disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected right ankle fracture. The cause of death is denied.

The Veteran's left ankle postoperative degenerative joint disease and complex regional pain syndrome of the left ankle were granted a rating, with the former receiving a 20% rating effective from September 22, 2008 to February 28, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for shell fragment wound residuals of the anterior right thigh and tendonitis of the left ankle. Service connection is denied for other unspecified multiple body traumas.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims as they are now moot.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has granted extension of a temporary total (100 percent) evaluation for convalescence following surgically corrected right tibia and fibula fracture through May 31, 2013. The issues of increased ratings for left-sided peroneal tendon subluxation and surgically corrected right tibia and fibula fracture are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including a review of service connection for right hip disorder and an evaluation of depression. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has restored a 30 percent disability rating for the Veteran's right shoulder disability from January 17, 2014. The claim of service connection for gout is remanded due to inadequate examination report and incomplete reasoning.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left elbow and right ankle disorders have been reopened. The Board has ordered remand to obtain additional examinations and evidence to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, shin splints, shoulder disorders, frostbite, psychiatric conditions, traumatic brain injury, headaches, wrist, hip, ankle, knee, elbow, little finger, plantar fasciitis, joint pain, back pain, neck pain, erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, skin disorder, and eye problems.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back condition. The claims for right femur fracture residuals, left ankle condition, and insomnia are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their severity.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of low back, left knee, and left ankle disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded several issues for further examination and opinion, including right shoulder, low back, bilateral knee, right foot ingrown toenails, sinus disability, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's service connection claims are not granted as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of a relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claim for an increased rating higher than 20 percent for left shoulder strain. The claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as for right shoulder and left knee DJD, were granted. The cases for entitlement to increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and right knee chronic strain with arthritis are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral ankle disability, bilateral pes planus, and bilateral plantar fasciitis with hallux rigidus as the evidence did not show that these conditions were related to military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle and right hip disabilities. The case will be remanded to obtain a VA examination and review of medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for painful scars, including right inguinal hernia repairs scar and bilateral foot/ankle scars, is denied. The medical evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims of higher rating for PTSD, service connection for hearing loss, heart condition, sinusitis, left ankle and knee conditions, scar of right eyebrow, and tinnitus. The RO is directed to address these issues.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and assessment of functional loss during flare-ups.