Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her left ankle, right ankle, and right foot neuropathy disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, and cervical spine disorder. The appeal is remanded to obtain a VA examination for the Veteran's currently present bilateral foot disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The claims for increased ratings for erectile dysfunction, left wrist tenosynovitis, and right wrist tenosynovitis are denied. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left foot neuropathy disability, and right foot neuropathy disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and left ankle condition due to insufficient evidence, including a need for VA examinations and verification of service records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle, bilateral wrist, and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding functional loss or impairment.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has granted the reopening of previously denied claims for service connection for chronic low back condition and right shoulder disability status post fracture, but denied reopening of other claims. The case is remanded for further development on all issues.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection have been remanded by the Board. The appeals are related to his bilateral foot, gastrointestinal, right wrist, left inguinal, and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of residuals of a right ankle fracture has been reopened, and the Board has remanded it. The claims for higher initial disability ratings for spur formation of the lumbar spine, left knee injury, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee are also remanded.

The Veteran's right ankle arthritis was increased from a 10 percent to a 20 percent rating in May 2015. The RO reduced the rating back down to 10 percent effective July 1, 2018, but this reduction is void ab initio due to failure to consider whether there has been an improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back, left thigh, and bilateral ankle conditions due to inadequate examinations in August 2016. The cases are returned for further development.

The Veteran's back disorder was granted service connection. The remaining claims for various other disorders were denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims were granted, and he was awarded evaluations for various conditions. The Board also found that some issues required further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities which were considered static in nature reached a combined evaluation of 100 percent as of July 1, 2006. The Board found that the criteria for establishment of basic eligibility to Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits were satisfied as of this date.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, asthma, bilateral hip disability, left knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, low back disability, neck disability, and acquired psychiatric disability as they were not caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ankle sprain has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for right shoulder rotator cuff tear with degenerative changes, but the claim for left thoracic lipomatous mass (claimed as soft tissue sarcoma) is denied. The Veteran's left eye chronic photophobia and epiphora are rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability, but the case is remanded to assign a rating and determine if a temporary total disability rating is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for increased disability ratings for bilateral foot calluses was denied.,An effective date earlier than September 20, 2016, for the grant of higher disability ratings for left and right foot calluses is also denied.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for diabetes mellitus and TDIU claim were both granted. The Veteran is now rated at 40% for diabetes mellitus, which includes a non-compensable rating for erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Veteran was granted a 40% rating for his lumbar degenerative disc disease as of March 21, 2018.