Ankle decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but the issues regarding left and right ankle disabilities and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for left foot arthritis, and the related secondary disabilities of left ankle, left knee, and spinal disabilities. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered to be a result of his in-service training.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle, knee, and low back disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus is dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for a back disability and Hepatitis C, and these claims are allowed. Further assistance is needed to determine if there is a current disability related to service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as it did not manifest in service or within the applicable presumptive period, and continuity of symptomatology is not established.,The appeal for service connection for right shoulder disability is remanded due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.,The appeal for service connection for right ankle disability is remanded due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.,The appeal for service connection for neck disability is remanded due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.,Further assistance is needed to determine if there is a current disability related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle injury residuals are related to his in-service injuries and grants service connection for these residuals.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, a right ankle disorder, and tinnitus.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's claimed cervical spine and right ankle disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and denied service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as gastrointestinal disability. The back disability is attributed to an in-service injury. Right and left ankle disabilities are not shown to be related to service or any other condition. Gastrointestinal disability is not established.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased rating and service connection claims related to various conditions. The Board also granted service connection for TBI with manifestations of headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder, a lumbar spine disorder with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and a right knee disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral knee and right ankle disorders due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous decision. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee condition, left ankle sprain, and right ankle sprain. However, these claims are still being remanded as further medical examination is required to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeals as to bilateral ankle disability, shrapnel wounds of the left eye, and PTSD with traumatic brain injury and depressive disorder. A 50 percent rating was granted for tension headaches associated with PTSD with traumatic brain injury and depressive disorder, and a 70 percent rating was granted for PTSD with traumatic brain injury and depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and missing records. The claims will be reviewed again with additional evidence and examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle disability and remanded the issues of service connection for psychiatric disabilities (including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression) and low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for herniated disc and right radiculopathy, as well as residuals of right shoulder surgery. The Veteran's GERD is rated at 30 percent.,The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis, left knee strain with patellar osteophyte formation, and a left ankle disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle condition/surgery, bilateral foot condition, throat surgery residuals, and TBI have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions that began during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's right ankle disability, specifically related to sleep impairment.

The Veteran's migraine headache disability is granted a 50% rating prior to May 4, 2016 and denied any higher. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for low back disorder, neck disorder, right ankle disorder, and sinusitis due to outstanding records and the need for VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal for all issues.