Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board is remanding several claims for further development, including those related to left knee osteoarthritis and other service-connected disabilities.,Additional medical records are needed to clarify the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions and determine if they are related to her military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disability was incurred during service and is not related to any pre-existing condition. The decision grants service connection for this disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding entitlement to an initial compensable rating for scar, left shoulder status post surgery. The remaining issues of service connection for right shoulder disability, thoracic spine disability, and right knee disability are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical strain and lumbar strain have been remanded for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his disabilities.,The Veteran's service-connected patellofemoral syndrome in both knees has been remanded for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his disabilities.,The Veteran's service-connected medial tibial stress syndrome in both legs has been remanded for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his disabilities.,The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been remanded for an examination to determine whether he currently has a disability within the meaning of VA regulation.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a bilateral eye condition has been remanded for an examination to determine whether any diagnosed conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active service.,The Veteran's service connection claims for left shoulder, left hand, right hip, right thigh, bilateral ankle, bilateral foot, and bilateral toe disabilities have been remanded for examinations to assess the current severity of his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's increased ratings for left ankle sprain and instability are also being reviewed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ankle strain, status post right talofibular ligament is granted. However, the issue of secondary service connection remains pending and requires further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for elbow and ankle conditions due to insufficient evidence in some cases, particularly regarding the etiology of his current symptoms.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claims for a right knee disorder and a right ankle disorder are denied. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence regarding his spine and neuropathy disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right ankle disability may be related to his service, but more evidence is needed for a definitive determination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's lung cancer was related to his military service or as due to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness related to his service in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to new and material evidence. Service connection has been granted for anxiety disorder, migraine headaches, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and hypertension.

The claim to reopen service connection for a left ankle disability is granted. The Board has decided that the Veteran's current left ankle disability may be related to an in-service injury, but further examination is needed to determine this.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA medical opinion to determine if the right ankle nonunion with deformity, necrosis of talar bone, avascular necrosis of the talar bone, and nerve damage are due to an event not reasonably foreseeable. The case will be readjudicated after this development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's right ankle fracture residuals are currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that an increased rating is not warranted prior to October 8, 2014 or in excess of 10 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's cold injury to the left foot is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board finds that an increased rating is not warranted as there are no symptoms such as tissue loss, nail abnormalities, color changes, locally impaired sensation, hyperhidrosis, or X-ray abnormalities (osteoporosis, subarticular punched out lesions, or osteoarthritis).,The Veteran's cold injury to the right foot is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board finds that an increased rating is not warranted as there are no symptoms such as tissue loss, nail abnormalities, color changes, locally impaired sensation, hyperhidrosis, or X-ray abnormalities (osteoporosis, subarticular punched out lesions, or osteoarthritis).,The earliest date of entitlement for service connection for PTSD is July 25, 2015.,The earliest date of entitlement for service connection for tinnitus is April 21, 2014.,The earliest date of entitlement for residuals of a left foot cold injury is April 21, 2014.,The earliest date of entitlement for residuals of a right foot cold injury is April 21, 2014.,The earliest date of entitlement for residuals of a right ankle fracture is October 1, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for back pain, left knee pain, right knee pain, left ankle pain, and right ankle pain due to incomplete records. The Veteran is entitled to a VA examination in relation to these claims.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for left ankle joint instability, finding that there is sufficient evidence to establish a connection between his in-service injury and current disability. The decision also reopened the previously denied claim.

The Veteran's initial rating for left ankle fracture residuals is being remanded due to the need for a new examination to assess current functional loss and impairment.

The Veteran's claim for left ear hearing loss has been granted, as new and material evidence was submitted. Service connection is also established for OSA secondary to service-connected PTSD.,Service connection is denied for various wrist, ankle, foot, eye, and headache disorders due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability, but the remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further consideration.