Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a left foot disability and an increased rating for his left ankle disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these disabilities to his military service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted a compensable rating from July 21, 2009 to February 16, 2018 and denied for a higher rating after that date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder, right knee, bilateral shin splints, left ankle, and right ankle conditions. The denial is based on a lack of current diagnoses or persistent/recurring symptoms.,Service connection was also denied for a low back condition and right leg sciatica secondary to the low back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, particularly those related to parachute landings in service.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right knee disorders, low back disorder, right hip disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain is remanded for further evaluation due to the lack of medical records showing diagnosis and treatment during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, low back, left ankle, hemorrhoids, and left knee disabilities are denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for various ankle and shoulder disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for a right ankle disability is granted. The claims for sleep apnea and lower back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various ankle, knee, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, and sinus disorders have been denied. The Board found no current diagnoses or chronic disabilities related to the claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum opinion to determine the nature and cause of the Veteran's left ankle DJD, left foot condition, and right foot condition. The claims are currently in a remanded status.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, concluding that there is no indication that a pulmonary embolism was related to active service or that any of the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities were a contributory cause of death.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle, hip, knee, neck, and shoulder disabilities due to new evidence submitted. However, these claims are still remanded as VA examinations are needed to determine if there is a link between the current disabilities and service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's disability ratings were restored as of January 17, 2017, due to the improper reduction in his disability ratings for service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, is denied due to lack of continuity of symptomatology after service and no medical evidence linking it to service. The neck, left knee, and left ankle disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for low back, tinnitus, right hip, bilateral ankle, and left knee conditions has been granted. The issues of service connection for right hip condition, bilateral ankle condition, and left knee condition have been remanded.

The Board has restored service connection for right calf atrophy as a separate and distinct disability, finding that the RO improperly severed it from the service-connected traumatic arthropathy of the right ankle.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to insufficient evidence, including recent VA treatment records.

The Veteran's scars of the right lower extremity are granted a rating of 20 percent from April 9, 2018. Service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for a right ankle condition and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.