Ankle decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for left ankle disability, ethmoid sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, and headache. The Veteran's claims were reopened due to new evidence submitted since the final denial in December 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the lack of evidence for the period between December 14, 2010 and February 28, 2012. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with other issues.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle disability, finding that it is related to his in-service injuries and resolving conflicting medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition has been reopened, and the rating of 10 percent for left knee subluxation has been restored. The appeal regarding sleep apnea is denied as it is not related to service or a service-connected disability. Service connection for left hip, left ankle, and right ankle conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds no evidence of marked limitation of motion or other factors warranting a higher rating. The Veteran reported pain and weakness without any significant functional loss.

The Veteran's left hand disability is granted a 10% rating from February 8, 2018. The low back and neck disabilities are denied ratings in excess of 10%. The left knee and right ankle disabilities are also denied ratings in excess of 10%.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent prior to September 9, 2013 and 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's herniated disc of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy is granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient medical evidence and requests for VA examinations. The issues of increased ratings for left hip bursitis, left ankle stress fractures, and service connection for sacroiliitis are pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hand and knee disabilities, left hip disability, left ankle disabilities, right ankle disabilities, diabetes mellitus (to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents), and bilateral hearing loss. The claims are being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to explore the etiology of these disorders.

The Veteran's claims for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at ERHC and RAC were denied due to failure to meet the filing requirements within 90 days of treatment.

The Veteran's bilateral hand condition is not related to his active service.,The Veteran's knee conditions are not related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder and lumbar spine disorder were denied. The claim for higher rating of bipolar I disorder prior to April 6, 2015 was granted with a rating of 70 percent. The Veteran's claim for TDIU from April 6, 2015 was also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hand, shoulder, elbow, knee, and ankle conditions. The Veteran is to be provided with VA examinations to determine if his current disabilities are related to his period of active service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for right knee disorder, upper-gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, hypertension, sleep apnea, and others. The TDIU claim is also being considered as a component of these increased rating claims.

The Veteran's service-connected postoperative traumatic arthritis of the right ankle is granted an initial 10 percent rating, effective from December 12, 2012. The Veteran's right ankle surgical scar is also granted a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for osteoarthritis of the left ankle was denied as her disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for creatine phosphokinase has been withdrawn. The claims of service connection for left ankle disorder, left foot disorder, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability are pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions and therefore denied service connection for all issues. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral shoulder impingement, chondromalacia patella, and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions were caused by or incurred during active duty.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss disability, lower back condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, bilateral plantar fasciitis, spleen condition, and thyroid condition due to lack of evidence linking the disabilities to service.