Ankle decisions — 2018

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for various orthopedic conditions and a penis tear/erectile dysfunction. The cases are remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for migraine headaches due to the absence of a current diagnosis. The claims for back condition, bilateral knees, and bilateral ankles are remanded as the VA examinations were inadequate.

The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia was rated at 10 percent prior to August 31, 2017. The Veteran is now receiving a 100 percent rating for his left knee since the date of surgery.,The Veteran's left ankle achilles tendonitis has been rated at 20 percent since April 15, 1999.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board found no evidence to support a finding that his back or left foot disabilities are related to military service. The Veteran's migraines were rated at 50% since June 2, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right ankle fracture residuals, diabetes mellitus type 2, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. His total disability rating is currently at 80 percent.

The Veteran's claim to reopen compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for loss of tooth #14 was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim to reopen service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury was granted, but the claim itself was denied as there is no competent evidence linking the current diagnosis to active service.

The Board has remanded multiple claims for service connection, including for DJD of various joints and related disabilities such as hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy, and tinnitus. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's left thigh abscess is denied as not service-connected. The effective date for the right ankle disability has been granted to August 14, 2008. A rating of 10 percent for painful right ankle surgical scars was granted from August 21, 2015, and a higher rating is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches was granted. The appeals for the low and middle back, right ankle, and sleep apnea disabilities are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and right ankle arthritis, as well as his claim for bilateral plantar fascial fibromatosis due to a lack of VA examination records. The Veteran will be given another opportunity to attend examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development and an opinion regarding functional impairment of the Veteran's ankles.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted as service connected. The appeals for jungle rot, PTSD, insomnia, and bruxism are dismissed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and a cervical spine disability. The Veteran's right ankle disability is not related to his active service, and there is no evidence of arthritis within one year post-service. For the cervical spine disability, the Veteran did not have any in-service injury or event that could be linked to his current condition.,The Board has also remanded the claims for increased ratings for a right shoulder disability and a lumbar spine disability due to insufficient examination findings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The PTSD claim is remanded for a VA examination, and the TDIU claim is dependent on the ratings of the service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities. The Veteran's claims for service connection of his left hand and right hand disabilities are remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination as there were not sufficient compliance with previous instructions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right ankle disabilities, as well as his right knee disability. The appeals for increased rating of left knee disability, service connection of lower back disability, and service connection of acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's neck, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disorders. The examiner will need to determine if these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 30 percent for bipolar II disorder, PTSD, and generalized anxiety disorder prior to July 8, 2014, and in excess of 70 percent from July 8, 2014, were dismissed. The appeal seeking entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities was remanded.