Ankle decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The osteoid osteoma of the left radius was found to be asymptomatic, while other disabilities were not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic arthritis of the left elbow, right elbow strain, flexion contracture of the DIP joint in both fifth fingers, and right and left ankle strains. The reasons given were that there was no evidence showing these conditions began during service or were related to any in-service injury or exposure.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was received after the last decision and must be considered. The case is also remanded for further examination of the Veteran's left shoulder disability, right ankle disability, and TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle condition is at least as likely as not related to his in-service right ankle injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for neck disability, back disability, and left ankle arthritis due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's testimony indicates that his current disabilities may be related to service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including right ankle disorder, left foot disorder, right foot disorder, left knee disorder, low back disorder, and depression as secondary to other service-connected disabilities. Effective May 13, 2013, the Veteran's service-connected disorders have been rated appropriately.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and a left ankle disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability. The rating for the left knee disability is remanded.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected mood disorder. The claims for left hip, right hip, and audiological disabilities are denied due to lack of current disability or no evidence linking the conditions to service. The claim for a right ankle disability is denied because there is no evidence it began during service or is related to an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities due to a lack of complete service treatment records. The Veteran's statements regarding in-service parachute jumps are considered credible, but further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right ankle disability, left ear hearing loss, and psychiatric disability (including PTSD) due to the need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's service connected healed right ankle fracture and PTSD were both granted increased ratings. The right ankle fracture was granted a 10% rating, while the PTSD was granted a 50% rating.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left ankle disability, left kidney disability, foot disability with pain, fungus of both toes, bronchitis, and sinusitis due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Veteran's left ankle disorder, low back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), right knee disorder, skin cancer, upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and gastritis are all granted service connection. The rating for the right ankle fracture residuals is 20%.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for lumbosacral strain, cervical spine strain, bilateral ankle disability, and tinnitus due to the absence of VA treatment records from 2001 to the present. These records are needed to make a determination on the merits.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the right great toe and left ankle disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral foot and ankle disabilities, as well as evaluations for degenerative arthritis of the right knee. The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of the service-connected right ankle fracture and determine if there are any flares that significantly limit function. The TDIU issue is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, left ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, sinus disability, and gastrointestinal disorder.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a blood problem was granted. The Board remanded the cases for left ankle, right ankle, multiple sclerosis, eye disorder, bladder disorder, spine disorder, and chronic right ankle sprain claims.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for his service-connected left ankle disability is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination. A new examination is needed that includes joint testing for pain on both active and passive motion, in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing (as appropriate), and with comparison to an undamaged joint.