Ankle decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot or ankle disorder and biceps disorder due to missing service treatment records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee and left ankle disabilities, finding that there is an evenly balanced evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of her service-connected right ankle sprain, as well as her newly granted secondary service connection for a right foot condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, leaving no issues to be decided by the Board.

The Veteran's disability ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as eczema of the back and right ankle, have been restored to their initial levels.

The Veteran's appeal regarding residuals of a fracture of the left distal radius and his left and right ankle disabilities has been denied. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for residuals of a fracture of the left distal radius, nor does he have ankylosis in either ankle that would warrant a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain has been rated at 10 percent since February 1998. The Board found that the current rating of 10 percent is appropriate given the moderate limitation of motion.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, including degenerative joint disease with symptoms of pain, swelling, instability, and limited motion, is rated at 20 percent from February 1, 2013 to May 26, 2017. The right lower extremity radiculopathy was initially rated at 10 percent from February 1, 2013 to May 26, 2017 and then increased to 20 percent from May 26, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and providing a VA examination.

This decision denies service connection for PTSD and COPD. The Board has expanded the claims to include bilateral ankle, feet, and hand conditions. Service connection is denied for these additional issues as well.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA is remanded due to a lack of an initial VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for a higher rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, left ankle sprain, and right ankle sprain. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the other issues.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were dismissed as she withdrew her appeal in writing prior to the Board decision.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has been rated at 20 percent since the beginning of his appeal. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of ankylosis and other specific findings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims of service connection for bilateral wrist, hand, knee, and ankle disorders are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions. The claim for service connection for a sinus disorder characterized by nosebleeds is remanded with consideration of exposure to dust storms and burn pits. The claim for service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of lower extremities is remanded with consideration of in-service treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for traumatic brain injury, chronic left ankle sprain, hearing loss in the left ear, and PTSD due to unclear evidence regarding TBI residuals and insufficient examination reports. The Veteran will need to undergo further evaluations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral ankle conditions is granted, but the claims for left and right ankle conditions are remanded due to a lack of in-service records.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70 percent rating, effective October 13, 2017. The claims for service connection of other disabilities are remanded.

The petition to reopen the claims for service connection of bilateral ankle disability and bilateral knee disability is granted. The claim for increased rating of spine disability is also granted, with a specific rating assigned.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal and auditory disabilities, as well as a claimed psychiatric disability. The appeals are due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension was denied service connection as there is no evidence of a diagnosis within one year of separation from service and the preponderance of the evidence fails to establish that it is related to service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's right ankle disability prior to January 23, 2018 did not warrant an initial rating in excess of 10 percent due to limited motion. However, from January 23, 2018, the Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for marked limited motion.