Ankle decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for new examinations and updated medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral lower extremity disability, right ankle condition, left ankle sprain with tarsal tunnel syndrome, and pseudofolliculitis barbae due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology and service connection.

The Board denied service connection for TBI, left knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral eye disability, and bilateral foot disability. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a nexus between the disabilities and his military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for a left knee disorder and kidney disorder, as well as an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for osteoarthritis of the left ankle. The effective date for the grant of an evaluation of 10 percent for osteoarthritis of the left ankle is denied.

Service connection for a bilateral elbow disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, eye disability, sleep apnea, hypertension, sinus disorder, cholesterol, and bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for anxiety disorder is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, finding that the condition did not have its onset in service and was not caused or aggravated by service-connected chronic sinusitis and major depressive disorder.,Service connection was granted for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) with an effective date of December 11, 2010. The Board found that the Veteran's claim to reopen this disability was received on December 11, 2010.,Service connection was also granted for a Right Ankle Disability with an effective date of July 30, 2012. The Board noted that no formal or informal claim had been filed prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right wrist, right ankle, or back disabilities. The claims for nerve damage and dizziness are remanded due to incomplete service records.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination for left ankle strain, requiring a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and verification of his periods of active duty, as well as obtaining any available service treatment records. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, bilateral eye disorders (including right and left eyes), back disability, neck disability, right arm disability, left arm disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and right foot disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for medulloblastoma, bilateral shoulder pain, neck pain, bilateral knee pain, bilateral ankle pain, and sore heels is granted. The claims for service connection for the other conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions. Service connection will be determined based on the merits of each claim.

Service connection is denied for hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence of current disability at present.,The Veteran's right hip, low back, left knee, right knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities are remanded due to incomplete service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current disabilities and active service. The issues include lower back disability, ankle disabilities (both ankles), bilateral flat feet, and complex regional pain syndrome in legs.

The Board dismissed the claim of service connection for migraines due to the Veteran's withdrawal from appeal. The remaining claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, low back disability, bilateral hip disability, and bilateral ankle disability are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left ankle disability, finding that there was no medical evidence linking his current condition to his active service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a right ankle disability due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development and an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle disability.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim for entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disorder is granted. The appeal is granted to this extent only, with the denial of the claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder. The rating in excess of 10 percent for seizures and the service connection for major depressive disorder with alcohol dependence (psychiatric disorder) as secondary to service-connected seizure disorder are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability as secondary to the service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's appeals because he failed to meet the first prong of service connection. The Board will now remand for additional examination and opinion regarding his left knee and right knee disorders.