Ankle decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing right ankle condition was aggravated by service. The Veteran needs to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle arthritis, right ankle arthritis, and partial removal of her right ovary as there is no current disability found in any of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's right ankle disability, as the previous examination did not adequately address functional loss and flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and right hip disorder due to potential functional impairment and a need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ankle osteoarthritis as there is no current diagnosis of arthritis.

The Veteran's right ankle condition is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation due to lack of marked limitation of motion.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral flatfeet, left ear hearing loss, COPD, and tinnitus. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, sleep apnea, and CHF are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure or follow gainful employment as of April 10, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen service connection for frostbite of the hands was dismissed. The Board also remanded the claims for reopening service connection for right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, low back, and right hip disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances related to prednisone, voice amplifier, and service-connected duodenal ulcer with GERD were denied. The claim for a left ankle stabilizer was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, left lower radiculopathy, and right lower radiculopathy. The Board found that there was no evidence showing a current disability related to these conditions and that any previous diagnoses were not shown within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for further medical examinations and evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the right hip, right knee, and left ankle. The Veteran's allergies are not considered to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for chronic right ankle sprain (claimed as right ankle pain) is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the February 2014 VA examination report. The examiner was not able to conduct all required testing and did not address whether there are flare-ups or their impact on function.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions, as well as degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, all secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. The claim for service connection for a right eye pinguecula is also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for atrial fibrillation, bilateral knee condition, bilateral ankle condition, migraine headaches, back condition, bilateral foot condition to include stasis dermatitis of the left foot, and bilateral eye condition. The issues have been remanded for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle sprain disability rating, and TDIU due to insufficient attempts in obtaining private medical records. A VA examination is needed for a proper assessment of these issues.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition related to an in-service stressor.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left hip arthralgia with arthritic changes is denied due to lack of flexion limited to 30 degrees or more.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent from November 1, 2010 to September 4, 2014 for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her claim at a prehearing conference.