Ankle decisions — 2018

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral flat feet, bilateral hearing loss, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

All appeals related to service connection and effective dates have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,Claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine disorder, left knee condition, right ankle disability, GERD, migraine headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder were also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the evidence does not support a finding that it began during active service.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted service connection, and effective May 10, 2012. The rating for his lumbar spine disability is also granted on that date. However, the issues of increased ratings for shoulder strains, lower extremity radiculopathy, left ankle sprain, cervical strain, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are remanded as new VA examinations are needed.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities have been rated based on their current symptoms, but the Board has remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection for other conditions.

The Veteran's left ankle degenerative arthritis is rated at 20 percent since July 29, 2009. His bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claims.,Obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.

The Veteran's migraines are now rated at 50% effective from February 1, 2016. Service connection for PTSD is granted. The right ankle disorder and vision problems due to fuel spillage have been remanded. Service connection for folliculitis and asthma remains pending.

The Board denied reopening the claims for right hip and right leg disorders due to lack of service connection.,The Veteran's fall at a VA facility did not meet the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 as his injuries were not caused by care, treatment or examination provided by VA.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a right ankle disability due to new and material evidence submitted by the Veteran. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for a cervical spine disorder due to insufficient evidence in the February 2016 VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for post-traumatic stress disorder prior to March 19, 2018 was denied. Since March 19, 2018, the Veteran is granted a 70 percent rating for post-traumatic stress disorder. The Veteran's individual unemployability claim has also been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left shoulder strain, cervical spine disability (neck pain and stiffness), lumbar spine disability (lower back pain), left ankle sprain, and right ankle sprain due to lack of medical documentation of continued care from 1994 to 2012. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the case for an additional VA examination to assess the severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right ankle, residuals of right ankle fracture.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The Board also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's back condition (spondylolisthesis) and left ankle condition are granted service connection as direct service connection. The case is remanded for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of the left ankle condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis due to conflicting evidence and lack of a medical opinion.