Ankle decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle and right foot disorders have been reopened, as new evidence has been submitted that relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claims.,Service connection for OSA and ED are granted as they are found to be secondary to service-connected PTSD with depression.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, right ankle disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The claims for right knee disability, left knee disability, left ankle arthritis, and left leg condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Veteran's increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right ankle osteoarthritis and Achilles tendonitis, left ankle osteoarthritis, and pseudofolliculitis barbae are also granted.

The Board has restored service connection for right foot strain and granted service connection for right ankle peroneus brevis and longus tenosynovitis (sinus tarsi syndrome), as well as service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, all found to be related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spondylosis, chronic lumbar strain, left knee sprain, right knee degenerative joint disease, bilateral ankle strain, and generalized anxiety disorder. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his bilateral ankle disabilities due to the need for a current VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete service records and unclear periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, ADSW, or INACDUTRA. The Veteran's complete service personnel and treatment records need to be secured and verified.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records, conduct a psychiatric examination using the DSM-5 criteria, and determine if sleep apnea is related to his diagnosed conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tension headaches. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for other disabilities are remanded for further development.

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

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, including back pain, radiculopathy, and knee strain.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and treatment records, requiring a new VA examination to determine if any current bilateral foot disorders are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability, including a lateral strain and ligament tears, is related to an in-service injury during Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) in August 2010. As such, service connection is granted.

The Board has granted increased ratings of 40 percent for the right ankle disability, TDIU benefits, and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) during the entire appellate period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disorder and back disorder are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right ankle injury residuals, but the claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded as there are new symptoms reported by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the need for retrospective medical opinions regarding his undiagnosed illness and its relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to his lumbar spine, cervical spine, right ankle, hearing loss, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, chronic urination (neurogenic bladder), and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral feet require further examination and opinion due to inadequate previous examinations.

The Board has reopened claims for service connection for back condition, left eye condition, GERD, acquired psychiatric disorder, arthritis, right leg pain, and left ankle pain. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for impairment of the right knee is remanded, as is the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for Osgood Schlatter's Disease of the right knee.