Ankle decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected right ankle disability is denied. The evidence does not show ankylosis of the ankle, which would warrant a higher rating under DC 5270.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings for cervical spine, right knee, and left ankle disorders due to inadequate examinations in previous reviews.

The Veteran's kidney cysts are related to his military service and specifically Gulf War Syndrome.,The Veteran's right knee disability is related to service or a service-connected foot condition.,The Veteran's left elbow disability (tendonitis) is related to service.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to service.,The Veteran's right ankle disability is related to service and his service-connected feet.,The Veteran's lung disability is not likely due to environmental exposure in Southwest Asia, but may be related to Gulf War Syndrome or undiagnosed illness.,The Veteran's headaches are of unknown etiology, possibly related to chemical exposure in service.,The Veteran's disability of the left upper extremity (intermittent numbness) is related to a military injury and/or his service-connected feet.,The Veteran's disability of the right upper extremity (intermittent numbness) is related to a military injury and/or his service-connected feet.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea. The cases of bilateral ankle disabilities, heart disability, left testicular disability, and bilateral eye condition are remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for various knee and ankle disorders, as well as a lumbar spine disorder. The VA is instructed to obtain all relevant medical records, including those from the San Juan VAMC, and schedule an examination by an appropriate clinician to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and needs further evaluation of the Veteran's left foot talipes varus condition, including any potential arthritis of the left ankle.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability based on new and material evidence is granted. The appeal is granted to this extent only, with the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability being remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle condition and dysthymic disorder, but denied his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. The case is remanded for additional examinations to assess the severity of his knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right leg disability and granted TDIU based on his multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the current condition and in-service noise exposure. The right ankle disability claim is remanded as there is no opinion on whether it is secondary to the service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims and an increased rating claim for left knee arthritis, as well as a TDIU claim due to the need for additional VA and private treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine, right ankle, left shoulder, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, left ankle, ingrown toenail, and headaches. The claims were reopened due to new evidence related to a left shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle condition is related to his in-service injury, and remands for further examination and development.

The Veteran's right ankle fracture, right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and sleep disorder/insomnia and cognitive disorder due to a traumatic brain injury are all remanded for further development.,A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service connected disabilities (TDIU) is also remanded.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is being remanded for a new examination to assess the current level of his disability due to worsening since the last VA examination in July 2012.

The Board has decided that a more recent VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the left ankle disability, as the Veteran reported worsening symptoms since his last examination in 2010.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present right and/or left knee and ankle disabilities, as well as whether these conditions are related to service. The Veteran's claims for service connection on this basis are being remanded.

The Board denied reopening of claims for left ankle, big toe, and foot peripheral neuropathy disabilities. Service connection was granted for right leg disability (including right ankle) and right leg peripheral neuropathy. An effective date of February 17, 2011, but no earlier, was granted for the grant of service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with effective dates and further examination is needed for left ankle, PTSD, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current level of severity and any extraschedular rating.