Ankle decisions — 2018

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of various conditions, including bilateral shoulder, hip, knee, ankle disabilities and depression. The claims for left ear hearing loss were reopened based on new evidence received since the April 1985 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for numbness, tingling, and soreness in various extremities as well as night sweats are denied. Service connection is not granted because the conditions do not meet the criteria for service connection under direct service connection or Gulf War illness presumptions.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left ankle disability, finding that the evidence did not show more than a moderate degree of limitation in the left ankle.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right ankle sprain, left ankle sprain with small spur, and left hand dermatitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left ankle, right ankle, and left knee disorders are remanded due to the need for updated examinations that comply with VA examination requirements.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for increased ratings on multiple conditions, including left shoulder bursitis, thoracolumbar strain, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, hip osteoarthritis, knee patellofemoral syndrome (both knees), ankle post-operative changes, sinusitis, and hiatal hernia with GERD.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's right ankle disability and its impact on his ability to work. The TDIU issue is also being remanded due to the inextricably intertwined nature with the right ankle rating.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete development of service personnel records and treatment records, including those related to National Guard service. The Veteran's conditions are left elbow, shoulder, knee, ankle, rib, abdominal pain, forehead scar, rash on face, forehead dryness, head injury, hyperventilation, asthma, cervical spine disability, left knee, hypertension.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are denied as there is no competent evidence of a nexus between the claimed disabilities and his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeals of service connection for right shoulder condition, right foot/ankle condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral ankle and foot conditions, as well as hypertension. The remand requires obtaining additional medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary due to the contradictory findings in the Veteran's medical records and incomplete treatment records. The issues of service connection for a bilateral ankle condition as secondary to service-connected pes planus with hallux valgus and hammertoes are remanded.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is being remanded for additional development as there are new medical records and a need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's upper respiratory infections are found to be related to service.,Bilateral hearing loss is not considered disabling enough for a compensable rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion and a need for further examination. The Veteran's right ankle disability is being reviewed again.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent and no higher, as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection has been granted for major depressive disorder secondary to service-connected PTSD.,Joint pain (bilateral knee osteoarthritis), neck disorder (cervical spine arthritis), and back disorder (lumbar spine arthritis) have not met the criteria for service connection as they are not shown to be related to service or within one year of separation from service.,Left ankle disorder, vision disorder (refractive error of the eye), bilateral hearing loss, shortness of breath, and sleep disorder have not been established as service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Heart disorder has not met the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorders, low back disorder, right ankle disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The case is remanded for additional examinations and development.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate examination findings and the need for additional opinions regarding range of motion, flare-ups, and functional impairment.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for left ankle sprain is not warranted, and the case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar spine, left hip, right hip, left knee, and right ankle disabilities as secondary to a service-connected right great toe disability due to lack of sufficient nexus opinions.