Ankle decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right foot amputation and its relationship to service-connected conditions. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the determination of service connection.

Service connection is granted for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease and lumbar spine spondylosis, as well as other service-connected disabilities. The effective date for the award of service connection for hemorrhoids is set at November 29, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right shoulder disorder and bilateral ankle disorder, as well as her TDIU claim. The VA examinations are required to address whether these conditions are related to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right ankle conditions, finding that the current disabilities are related to in-service injuries.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, left ankle disability, and left foot disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The case of service connection for a right ankle disorder and an initial compensable rating prior to July 20, 2015, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter, for left ankle distal malleolar fracture is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to schedule the Veteran for examinations to assess the current severity of his left knee and right ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for extension of delimiting date for Montgomery GI Bill education benefits was denied because the evidence did not clearly establish that a program of education was infeasible due to his service-connected and nonservice-connected disabilities during the original eligibility period.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection were dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of entitlement to an increased evaluation for perianal abscess, as well as the issue of a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle fracture residuals warrant a 10 percent rating prior to April 29, 2015. The disability is rated under the criteria for limitation of motion of the ankle.

The Board has denied service connection for right ankle, left great big toe injury, and broken ribs, right side disabilities. The Veteran's claims for left and right shoulder disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals to reopen claims for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of all claims by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for traumatic brain injury and service connection for tinnitus were granted. The appeals to reopen his claims of bilateral hearing loss, left ear infection, left ankle disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and right eye disability are denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but has remanded them due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and maintaining gainful employment for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gout, low back pain, bilateral knee and ankle pain, as well as bilateral foot and toe pain are related to service. As a result, the claim for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's initial claim for chronic right hip strain with sclerosis of acetabulum was granted, but the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's initial claim for limitation of extension of the right hip was also granted, and he received a noncompensable disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need to locate missing records from 2002-2006.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is being remanded because of incomplete development and a lack of an adequate opinion regarding whether his pre-existing condition was aggravated by service.,The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability claims are being remanded due to the need to locate missing records from 2002-2006 and for inadequate examination opinions.,The Veteran's back disability claim is being remanded because of incomplete development and a lack of an adequate opinion regarding whether his condition was aggravated by service.,The Veteran's ankle disability claim is being remanded due to incomplete development and a lack of an adequate opinion regarding the severity of his condition.,The Veteran's fibromyalgia claim is being remanded due to incomplete development and a lack of an adequate opinion regarding the severity of his condition.,The effective date for service connection for fibromyalgia is being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand disorder, bilateral elbow disorder, cervical spine disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to failure to comply with a previous remand order. The Veteran's left knee and left ankle disabilities need further examination to determine their severity.