Ankle decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the Veteran's testimony at his July 2018 Travel Board hearing, which could impact a decision on the issue of entitlement to TDIU. The right knee and ankle disabilities will be evaluated again, and any changes in rating will affect the TDIU determination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as the evidence does not show that his service-connected disabilities alone prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and foot conditions, including as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus, are being remanded due to the need for additional development of the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases due to ongoing complaints of wrist, neck, shoulder, ankle, lumbar spine, left knee, right knee, and epididymo-orchitis disorders. The case requires further examination and opinion regarding these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, residuals of a left ankle injury, mesothelioma, heart disability including coronary artery disease and ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus.,Additional issues related to hearing loss, tinnitus, arthritis, right ankle disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and temporary total rating for a period of convalescence have been remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbar and cervical spine disorders, as well as his left ankle disorder, were denied. The case was remanded for further development regarding the left ankle disorder and TDIU claim.

The Board denied claims to reopen service connection for right wrist arthritis and degenerative joint disease of the ankles, as well as a claim for left wrist arthritis. The Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral osteoarthritis of the knees, left ankle and foot, gout, eye conditions, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and major depressive disorder. The appeals were based on a direct relationship to service without any presumption or secondary theory.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and a rating of 20 percent has been granted for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. The claim for hypertension remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a VA examiner's opinion on whether his hearing loss was caused or aggravated by his service-connected psoriasis or left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for psoriatic arthritis is also remanded as it requires a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left shoulder disability, right ankle disability, and rib disability was denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s range of motion in his left shoulder did not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent, as it was consistent with midway between side and shoulder level. For his right ankle disability, the Board granted a 20 percent rating based on marked limitation in its range of motion. However, for his rib disability, the Veteran's noncompensable evaluation was maintained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee and ankle conditions due to inadequate VA examinations. The claims will be reconsidered with new examinations.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, left ankle disability, and left elbow disability have been denied. The claim for residuals of dental trauma is remanded.,Service connection has been granted for genital herpes and a psychiatric disability other than PTSD.

The Veteran's initial rating for a left ankle sprain prior to October 21, 2008 and the subsequent increase to 20 percent thereafter is being remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, right knee, and left foot or ankle disabilities as well as an acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety disorder and PTSD) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for anterior chest pain and upper respiratory infection were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,The Veteran's claims for left ear pain and dizziness episodes, perirectal abscess status post-surgery, facial acne vulgaris, folliculitis barbae, right elbow pain, and right ankle sprain were also denied as there are no current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for back problems, right knee disability, bilateral ankle condition, stomach problems, anxious symptoms, and sleep problems must be remanded due to incomplete or insufficient evidence. The issues of whether his neurological symptoms are related to his service-connected left knee disability also need to be addressed.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, and ankle pain are rated at 50 percent since January 23, 2015. The case is remanded for a new examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected foot conditions and for consideration of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate development and need for new examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches due to an in-service head injury and secondary to service-connected vascular dementia. The Veteran's joint pain conditions are denied as not related to service or a cold injury, and the scars on his left occipital area and right eyebrow are rated at 30 percent.