Ankle decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased evaluation, and TDIU. The Veteran will be provided with a new VA examination for his left ankle disability and precordial chest pain, as well as an updated VA examination for PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and the need for a new VA examination to assess the Veteran's ability to work due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the right inguinal hernia scar rating and service connection for various disabilities. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to a lack of recent VA examinations and potential procedural errors.

The Board has granted service connection for adjustment disorder and tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, left ankle disability, left foot disability, and TBI. The appeals for these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's right ankle strain disability is rated at a maximum of 20 percent, corresponding to marked limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as right and left ankle disabilities due to conflicting evidence and inconsistencies in the Veteran's statements.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the severity of the Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae, whether he has an additional disability due to VA treatment in 2010, and the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, hip, great toe, cervical spine, hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities. The Board also requires a new examination for these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cold weather injuries of the bilateral feet/ankles was granted effective May 9, 2007.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to uncertainty in her service dates and unavailability of certain medical records. The Veteran will need to provide updated information about her service dates, obtain missing service treatment records from June 1987 to December 1994, and request SSA disability records.

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for right ear hearing loss, residuals of TBI, and chest pain was denied. The Board found new and material evidence for the TBI claim.,Sleep apnea, left elbow disability, left shoulder bursitis, cervical spine disability, left hip disability, right pubic tendonitis, left ankle disability, right ankle sprain, left eye injury, stomach pain, kidney stones, service-connected cyst on the right side of the face, numbness in left hand and fingers (carpal tunnel syndrome), leg pain (left and right), and uncontrollable twitching and pain were all remanded for further review.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle disorder, right foot disorder (to include right foot tendonitis of the fibularis brevis), erectile dysfunction, right and left lower extremities neuropathy, and right and left lower extremities radiculopathy.,No current diagnoses were found by VA examiners for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD, right ankle DJD, right ankle laxity, painful scar on the right ankle, and linear surgical scar on the right ankle are all being remanded for further evaluation. Additionally, his TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any ankle, knee, foot, or peripheral vascular disease. The claims for service connection are denied.

Service connection is granted for chronic kidney disease and anxiety disorder, with a 10 percent rating assigned for residuals of a right fibula fracture. Service connection is denied for left ankle, right ankle, left foot, and right foot disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for his left and right ankle disorders are remanded due to a need for additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's left shoulder strain, anterior cruciate ligament repair of the left knee, and partial iliectomy of the terminal ileum with irritable colon syndrome are all rated as they should be based on their respective conditions. The initial rating for chronic left shoulder strain is denied, while a higher rating is granted for residuals of talus and ligamentous repair of the right ankle.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle, low back, and bilateral knee disabilities due to lack of qualifying active duty service during the claimed periods.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral feet and right ankle disabilities have been reopened. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records, arrange for a VA examination, and provide a medical nexus opinion regarding the relationship between his current foot and ankle conditions and his active service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis and left ankle sprain, finding no evidence of a link to military service.,Service connection was not granted due to lack of medical nexus linking the current conditions to active duty.

New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for a right ankle condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and back and right knee conditions. The Veteran's current symptoms are consistent with these diagnoses.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure.