Ankle decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased disability ratings due to insufficient evidence, including a lack of VA examinations in some cases.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been reopened, and the Board has granted a separate 20 percent rating for left knee cartilage impairment. The issues of service connection for low back disability, right ankle disability, psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his left ankle disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for updated information about his employment history and a new examination of his left ankle disability.

The Board dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a right distal fracture with degenerative arthritis (DA) right ankle are rated at 20 percent effective May 19, 2014.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee, back, cervical spine, and ankle disabilities were denied. The Veteran's service-connected conditions are rated based on their current functional impairment without considering any presumptive or secondary theories of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The initial ratings for left and right ankle sprains were also denied, but the rating for left ankle sprain from June 5, 2015 onwards was granted at a 20% level. The Veteran's PTSD claim resulted in an initial non-compensable rating which has been maintained.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding flare-ups and functional loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back, left ankle, neck, right ankle, and left foot disabilities, have been denied as the evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and active service.,Service connection has also been denied for a mental disability, headache disability, sleep apnea, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ankle strain has been granted.,Service connection is also granted for the Veteran's cervical spine disability. However, his claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (dysthymic disorder) was denied as there is no direct evidence linking it to service.,The Veteran's dysthymic disorder is considered related to his in-service parachute malfunction injury.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to address the issue of service connection for migraine headaches. The RO must acknowledge the Veteran’s NOD and provide an SOC.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all appeals.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle, bilateral knee, and bilateral foot disorders due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records from Social Security Administration and worker's compensation claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The highest schedular rating of 60% was granted for neurodermatitis, but no other condition received a positive decision.

The Board has denied all service connection claims except for the reopening of a claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which is granted.

The case is remanded due to inadequate examination and missing VA treatment records. A new rating decision will be made after the necessary information and records are obtained.

The Board has granted clothing allowances for the 2015 calendar year for hydrocortisone cream, right and left ankle braces, and right and left knee braces. Clothing allowances have been denied for custom insoles due to their effect on shoes.