Ankle decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, bilateral ankle degenerative arthritis, and right hip degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an extension of a temporary total evaluation beyond June 1, 2011 due to treatment for a service-connected right ankle disorder requiring convalescence has been denied as the greatest benefit possible has already been awarded.

Right knee osteoarthritis is granted as secondary to service-connected right ankle fracture with degenerative joint disease.,Tinnitus is granted as incurred in service.,Cervical disorder is granted as secondary to service-connected thoracolumbar strain.,Shortened right leg is granted as secondary to service-connected right ankle fracture.,Sinusitis is granted as incurred in service.

Your appeal to restore your left ankle disability rating from 40 percent to 40 percent has been dismissed because you have accepted the current 20 percent rating.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle disabilities need further examination to determine if they are related to his military service.

This decision denies service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for postoperative right knee scar is also denied. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a right hip disability, heart disability (coronary artery disease and residuals of coronary artery bypass), fasciotomy to the outer portion of the right leg, right popliteal intraoperative vascular injury, and right ankle and leg neuropathy.,Service connection is also denied for these conditions. The Board has ordered additional development in order to determine if service connection can be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records, specifically regarding her ankle injury and ankylosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left lower extremity disability, including variously diagnosed conditions such as left lateral meralgia paresthetica and mild degenerative changes of the left ankle, has been granted. Service connection was also established for PTSD with depression.

The Board has remanded several claims, including reopening of service connection for various disabilities and increased evaluations. The Veteran's VA treatment records have been submitted but need to be reviewed by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining VA and/or private treatment records related to his service-connected left knee and left ankle disabilities, and scheduling him for an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has denied a higher rating for the Veteran's left ankle fracture disability, finding that it does not meet the criteria for ankylosis. The claim is remanded to consider whether separate ratings should be assigned for any neurological and muscle symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left ankle disability due to a lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board finds there is new and material evidence to reopen his claims.,Service connection has been granted for left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle condition, finding no nexus between the current condition and active service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and new evidence being added to the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection on appeal are remanded due to the need for additional development and examination. The issues include determining whether new evidence was received to reopen a claim, as well as evaluating various conditions such as tinnitus, rotator cuff disorders, arthritis, Gulf War syndrome, joint pain, headaches, sleep disturbances, allergic rhinitis, upper respiratory disorder, fatigue, skin disorder, knee tendonitis, ankle disorders, and others. The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded to allow for further review and examination.

The Veteran's claims for right ankle, left knee (status post meniscectomy), and skin disorders have been reopened. He is now entitled to a noncompensable disability rating for his service-connected residuals of a left heel bone spur.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's posttraumatic arthritis of the left ankle, finding that it more nearly approximates marked limitation of motion. The effective date is to be determined by the RO.

The Veteran's broken right ankle is rated at a 10 percent disability, the minimum rating for limited motion.