Ankle decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and a right foot/ankle disability, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's esophageal cancer, which contributed to his death. The examiner is required to provide opinions on whether each service-connected disability contributed substantially or materially to death and if it aided in the production of death.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of left ankle and neck disabilities were denied as there was no new evidence submitted to reopen the prior claims, and the earliest date VA received a request to reopen was April 28, 2004.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, which was previously rated as noncompensable, is now rated at 10 percent effective January 17, 2018. The rating is based on painful motion with limited dorsiflexion and plantar flexion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from attending to the needs of nature, caring for himself, or protecting himself from the hazards of his environment. The Board finds that he meets the criterion for aid and attendance benefits due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for numbness in the left toes, neck disability, right ankle disability, OSA, and hip disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a current disability. The claims for secondary service connection are remanded as further medical opinions are needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left ankle and low back disability, including as secondary to a service-connected left ankle fracture, were denied. The claim for an increased rating for left ankle disability was granted with a 20 percent evaluation effective October 19, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability from January 19, 2010 to September 14, 2014.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for surgical scarring of the breasts due to fibrocystic disease from December 15, 2010, through November 6, 2017, is granted. The request for a higher rating on and after November 7, 2017, is denied. New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for left thumb tendonitis and left wrist tendonitis, with the requests to reopen being granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability, nasal swelling (including sinusitis), and respiratory disability (including asthma) have been granted. The decision also reopened the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination for evaluating the Veteran's left ankle disability. The Veteran is entitled to a VA examination to assess his current severity and manifestations of arthritis of the left ankle.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran did not have a current right ankle disability or bilateral hearing loss at the time of his separation from service. There is no evidence of noise exposure in service that could cause tinnitus.,There was no significant threshold shift in the Veteran's hearing during service, and there is no probative medical evidence linking his current bilateral hearing loss to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of left ankle disorder, lower back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and Hepatitis C as they are all related to a deceased veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hip, knee and ankle conditions are secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine condition.

The Board denied service connection for right knee, leg, and ankle disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a current disability resulting from an in-service injury or disease. The Veteran's claims were found not credible regarding continuity of symptoms.

Your claims for service connection, a compensable rating, special monthly compensation based on loss of use of the left foot, and TDIU are being remanded to allow VA to review additional evidence.

The Board has denied requests for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for PTSD, left ankle disability, and tinnitus. The right knee disability was granted with an effective date of November 24, 2015, but the Veteran requested a prior effective date. The case is remanded to issue a Statement of the Case on this matter.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to disputes regarding the Veteran's service connection claims, particularly concerning his left and right ankle disorders. The issues are related to whether these conditions were incurred or aggravated during periods of active or inactive service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted service connection and he is assigned a 20 percent initial rating.,His left ankle fracture and Achilles tendon repair are granted an initial 20 percent rating throughout the appeal period.,PFB of the neck is granted an initial 10 percent rating throughout the appeal period.