Ankle decisions — 2018

Your appeals for increased ratings for your right and left ankle sprains have been dismissed as you withdrew them during a prehearing conference.

The Veteran's service-connected scar on his right ankle is granted a 10 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's low back disability is not service connected as it was not incurred or aggravated by service.,The right ankle calcaneal spurs are not service connected as they were not caused by the in-service injury and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service.,Tinnitus is service connected as it first manifested during active service and is related to noise exposure in service.,Obstructive sleep apnea is service connected as it was incurred during active service due to exposure to smoke, fumes, and exhaust while in service.,The left leg disability is not service connected as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or chronicity since service.,The right leg disability is not service connected as the primary condition (right ankle calcaneal spurs) is not service connected.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle disorder, bilateral foot disorder, sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been reopened. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The appeal challenging the withholding of VA compensation due to concurrent receipt of drill pay and service connection for various conditions is denied.

The Veteran's left ankle condition is rated 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that her condition may have worsened since her last VA examination. She should be afforded a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee, left ankle, and chest disabilities. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for adjustment disorder with depressed mood has been denied. The Board also found that the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, but remanded the issue due to incomplete development.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities beginning December 12, 2008. The combined rating of his service-connected conditions (right ankle degenerative joint disease and depression) meets the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle disorders, as well as left and right knee disorders. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.,There is no current diagnosis related to the ankles or knees, and the pre-service and post-service medical records do not indicate any chronic disabilities affecting these joints.

Service connection is granted for a psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disability (degenerative disc disease), and cardiovascular disorder. Other service connection claims are remanded.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, memory loss, bilateral wrist disabilities, neck disability, left knee disability, bilateral ankle disabilities, and bilateral elbow disabilities due to new evidence showing Gulf War Syndrome. However, these conditions are not found to be related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchitis was reopened, and he is now entitled to a 10 percent disability evaluation. The claims for service connection for left ankle condition, right ankle condition, left knee patella chondromalacia, and right knee disability are all remanded.

The Board denied service connection for back, neck, and right lower extremity disabilities (including right ankle) as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's time in service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of any current left ankle disability. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as there is no medical evidence linking it to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability and prostatitis with urinary incontinence. The VA will obtain updated treatment records, schedule the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations, and determine if extraschedular evaluations are warranted.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable disability ratings for her service-connected left (minor) shoulder, bilateral plantar fasciitis of the feet, and right and left ankle disabilities are being remanded due to insufficient examination findings. She needs new VA examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for back, left ankle, left foot, left hip, and right hip disabilities. The Veteran's current lower back conditions are not related to the alleged in-service forklift incident.,The Veteran's left ankle condition is also not related to the alleged in-service forklift incident.

The Veteran's service-connected back, left ankle, and left pectoral muscle disabilities rendered him unemployable prior to December 6, 2016. The Board found that the VA did not properly refer his claim for extraschedular TDIU consideration.