Ankle decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his ongoing ankle pain.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral great toes, bilateral ankle disability, lumbar spine disability as secondary to service-connected arterial reconstruction left lower extremity, and bilateral hip disability as secondary to service-connected arterial reconstruction left lower extremity have been denied. The right knee disability claim has not met the criteria for a rating more than 10 percent.,The Veteran's depression claim has not met the criteria for a rating more than 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated VA medical records and a new VA examination to assess his current symptoms and severity of service-connected bilateral ankle conditions.

The VA denied the Veteran's appeal because they acted properly in withholding his compensation benefits to recoup his separation pay, which had nothing to do with a medical condition.

A rating of 30 percent for seborrheic dermatitis is granted, effective September 15, 2016. The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder and right ankle disorder are remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim to reopen the previously denied service connection for a left ankle/foot condition is granted. The case is remanded due to the need for another VA examination.

The claim for service connection of the right knee disability was reopened, but the claim for an increased rating of the right ankle disability remains denied.

The Veteran's claim to reopen a left ankle disability was denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.,Service connection for low back disorder, right ankle disability, sleep disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder were all denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral ankle disability, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claims will be reviewed again with new VA examinations.

The Veteran's disability ratings have been remanded for further evaluation due to the complexity of his multiple service-connected disabilities in the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's right ankle brace caused wear and tear to his clothing, leading to a grant of a clothing allowance for the year 2014. The other issues on appeal are not addressed in this decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including left elbow disability, allergic rhinitis, cervical spine disability, low back disability, right foot disability, right ankle disability, hemorrhoids, and right hand scaring. The claims are being remanded to provide further examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a failure to schedule VA examinations. The issues include cervical spine, right ankle, respiratory disability (undiagnosed illness), and left wrist cyst.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and left ankle/left foot disorder due to outstanding records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, back disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, skin disability (rash on lower extremities), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. However, further development is needed as VA examinations are required to determine the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral foot and ankle disabilities, as secondary to his service-connected knee disability due to an inadequate examination report.

The Board denied service connection for muscle weakness, fibromyalgia, low back disability, joint problems (knees and ankles), inability to walk, and neck disability as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and hypertension due to insufficient evidence.,There is no current diagnosis of a right ankle disability or hypertension in the record.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar back disability and a left ankle disability, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that led to the current disabilities.

The Veteran's diplopia is granted as a symptom of her service-connected migraine headaches. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.