Ankle decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand several claims related to the Veteran's service connection for various conditions, including left ankle disorder, bilateral shin splints, vision loss, right ankle disorder, sleep disorder, weight disorder, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision also mentions that VA treatment records from 1992 to the present need to be obtained.

The Veteran's bilateral flat feet and left ankle disability are rated at the maximum allowable under their respective diagnostic codes, with no basis for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral ankle disability as there is no current diagnosis of such condition and the Veteran did not have a chronic ankle disability during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board is remanding these issues to obtain additional medical opinions and examinations.,The Veteran's secondary service connection claim for migraines has also been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The Board also found that he had a current diagnosis of bilateral knee conditions, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and denied service connection for swollen bilateral ankles.,Service connection was granted for hearing loss and tinnitus due to exposure to loud noises during service. The bilateral knee conditions, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma were not found to be related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD. The remaining issues have been remanded due to the Veteran's failure to appear at a scheduled DRO hearing.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and need for additional opinions regarding the etiology of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right ankle degenerative joint disease have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, service connection cannot be established as there is no evidence showing a current disability or that any diagnosed conditions are related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to his active service, but additional evidence is needed for other conditions. The Veteran will need to provide updated treatment records and undergo a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident, including cervical fracture, right ankle fracture, fractured ribs, and facial fractures. The decision is pending further investigation into the Veteran's duty status prior to April 28, 2001.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings for neck, left and right knee disabilities, and a left ankle disability have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all issues.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the service connection claims related to lumbar spine condition, neck condition, left and right ankle conditions, arthritis and gout of the bilateral feet, gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (chronic depression).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of his sleep disorder, PTSD, chronic left ankle strain, and unspecified anxiety disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology and severity. The Veteran is also being asked to provide additional information about stressors related to his PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and low back disabilities due to new and material evidence. The claims are remanded for further development, including VA examinations.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's right ankle disability, effective from June 30, 2008, finding that the evidence shows functional loss and painful motion prior to January 25, 2013.

The Veteran's service is not considered to be during a period of war, thus he does not meet the eligibility requirements for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board has denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed right knee, right ankle, left knee, low back, hallux valgus deformity (right first metatarsophalangeal joint), and meralgia paresthetica disabilities as they are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle conditions and bilateral foot numbness. The Veteran was found not to have chronic disabilities of the ankles or feet at separation, and there is no evidence of such disabilities during the pendency of the claim.,An initial compensable evaluation for bilateral pes planus is remanded as the current examination is too old to adequately evaluate the current state of the disability.

The Veteran's right ankle DJD with instability is rated at 10 percent prior to February 13, 2014. From February 13, 2014, the rating is increased to 20 percent.