Ankle decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate efforts to obtain them. The RO must attempt to secure his military treatment records from 2007-2008.

The Veteran's left mandible fracture is rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,Service connection for sleep apnea and left knee condition are granted. Service connection for left ankle condition is also granted.

The claim for service connection for a low back disability is reopened and granted.,The claim for service connection for a left foot/ankle disability remains denied as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for left ankle condition, anxiety attacks and mood swings, and PTSD were denied. The Board found no new evidence that would support reopening the claims.

The Veteran's frostbite injuries sustained during service are found to be directly related to his current diagnoses of peroneal tendonitis, edema, drop foot, onychomycosis, and peripheral vascular disease. The claim is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction due to their association with the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The claims of entitlement to service connection for other conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for various conditions, including right knee disability, left shoulder disability, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and other musculoskeletal issues, has been granted. However, some claims were remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural errors.

The appeals for service connection for various foot, ankle, knee, shoulder, and back disorders are dismissed. The appeal for service connection for a right foot disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's OSA, depressive disorder, right knee pain, left knee pain, and right ankle DJD are all granted service connection. The rating for chronic low back pain is increased to 40 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left ankle disability is related to service. Additional development and an opinion from a VA examiner are needed.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded as it was inferred from his allegations.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and the issues will be reconsidered in a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a right ankle disorder, speech impediment, PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety), and seizure disorder. The appeals were not granted as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD, tinnitus, and other service-connected conditions are currently rated based on their severity.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent since they cause very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has decided to remand four issues: service connection for gout, right and left ankle disorders, a compensable rating prior to May 7, 2017, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter, for bilateral hearing loss; and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).

The claim for service connection for right ankle and right foot disorders is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's knee disabilities are also remanded, but the decision on left knee instability and limitation of motion remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied. The Board finds that no evidence supports a claim prior to November 28, 2012.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and heel disorders due to conflicting evidence, incomplete medical opinions, and need for clarification of etiology. The Veteran will be asked to provide any outstanding treatment records and an examination will be scheduled by a clinician to determine if these conditions are related to her service-connected disabilities.