Ankle decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder was denied in 2003, and the Board has not reopened it due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for bilateral ankle disability is currently pending and will be remanded.,Service connection for a bilateral ankle disability cannot be established as there is no medical evidence showing current disability or continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and records are not sufficient to make a fully informed decision on the claims of service connection for right ankle disability and PTSD. The Veteran's right ankle disability is remanded due to an inaccurate factual predicate in the July 2014 VA examination report, which did not consider the documented diagnosis of Achilles tendonitis. The claim for PTSD is also remanded as there may be outstanding relevant VA treatment records that have not been reviewed.

The Veteran's appeal includes three issues: service connection for residuals of left ankle fracture with degenerative changes, initial compensable rating for Hepatitis B, and initial compensable rating for Gastroesophageal reflux disease. The decision on the service connection issue is mixed (some granted, some not).

The Veteran's service treatment records show no evidence of a current broken right ankle or its residuals. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have not been met.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left heel spurs, left ankle disorder, hypertension, and thoracolumbar spine disorder have been denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or medical nexus to current diagnoses.

The Court affirmed the Board's January 2010 decision on the issues of earlier effective dates for service connection, and thus the Veteran's CUE motion is moot.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right knee pain, as well as the reopening of service connection claims for torn left ankle ligament and residuals from a right ankle fracture due to incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran's complete medical records are requested.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are inextricably intertwined with his claims for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder distinct from PTSD, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU). Therefore, these issues must be remanded to allow VA to obtain all available service treatment records and corroborate the Veteran's reported stressors. Additionally, the Veteran needs to have additional medical examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle arthralgia with functional impairment is etiologically linked to his in-service severe right ankle sprain, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to incomplete evidence and a canceled hearing. The claims for bilateral knee degenerative joint disease, degenerative joint disease lumbar spine, right ankle disorder, coronary artery disease (claimed as heart attack and heart problems), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various musculoskeletal disorders, including left and right shoulder, cervical spine, hip, knee, ankle, and foot conditions. The claims are being returned to VA for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and an inadequate examination. The Veteran's right ankle disability is being reviewed again with a new examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left knee disability, right ankle disability, sarcoidosis, and a higher rating for lumbar strain due to additional medical development and opinion.

Service connection is granted for a left ankle disability, bronchitis, and pericarditis.,Increased ratings of 10 percent are assigned for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and right ankle disabilities need further investigation, as requested records have not been obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle degenerative arthritis, bilateral knee osteoarthritis status post total knee replacements, and traumatic brain injury. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for joint and muscle pain (claimed as ankles, hips, wrists, feet, shoulders, hands, and neck) due to lack of evidence showing a current disability separate from the Veteran's already service-connected fibromyalgia.,Service connection was granted for bilateral hand numbness and neck disorder. The Board found that these conditions were at least as likely as not related to the Veteran’s service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions, and thus service connection is denied for all issues on appeal.

The claims for low back, left ankle, right ankle, and flat feet disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's service-connected polyneuropathy is also being evaluated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral shoulder disability, respiratory condition (bronchitis and asthma), bilateral ankle disability, back disability, and neck disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The AOJ is instructed to verify dates of active duty training and inactive duty training, obtain any outstanding VA or private treatment records, and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.