Ankle decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for left ankle, right ankle, left wrist, and right wrist disabilities due to insufficient examination reports and incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at a 20 percent rating. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for psychiatric and neck disabilities, as well as entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to service or other factors.

An evaluation of 10 percent for service-connected hepatitis C from June 10, 2015 is granted. The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and tender scar, status post hernia repair is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination in addressing the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle condition. The Veteran must be provided with a new VA examination that specifically addresses the March 2012 letter from his treating VA orthopedic surgeon.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 10 percent from August 5, 2011 through June 7, 2012 and at 20 percent effective October 1, 2012. The rating of the left ankle disability was granted.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and the case is remanded for further examination regarding pes planus and right ankle disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities due to a lack of current diagnosis, as well as potential environmental exposures. The Veteran will need to be examined by VA to determine if his joint pain is related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right ankle disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disability and an increased rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (MDD). The claims are currently pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of service treatment records and lack of a formal finding regarding whether the Veteran was placed on extended light duty during his period of service. The case is now pending for further review.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right ankle disability and pseudofolliculitis barbae, and adjudicating whether new and material evidence has been submitted sufficient to prevent finality from attaching to the March 2015 rating decision severing service connection for a right ankle disability.

The Board has directed the VA to conduct further examinations and review medical records to determine all residuals of the appellant's service-connected left ankle disability, including any neurological manifestations. The matter is remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's degenerative changes of the left knee are granted a rating of 20 percent, but no higher. Service connection for atopic dermatitis is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his right ankle and right leg disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, IHD, left foot and ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have prevented him from maintaining substantially gainful employment for the periods where his combined rating was less than total.

The Veteran's clothing was damaged by his knee braces and topical medication for service-connected conditions. The Board granted a clothing allowance for the damage caused by the knee braces, but denied the claim for the topical medication.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability was reopened and granted. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of an ankle injury due to foot surgery was denied, as there was no new and material evidence received since the April 2007 rating decision. Service connection for a bilateral ankle disability was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any impairment or diagnoses of a headache disability or disabilities of the hip, knees, legs, ankles, feet, a deviated septum, or a heart disability related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding development needed, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left ankle disability is pending.