Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for left ankle disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and depression. The claim of service connection for acne with scarring is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the acquired psychiatric disorder claim. The rating for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right elbow arthritis, right hand arthritis, right hip arthritis, right knee arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, right wrist arthritis, and right ankle arthritis due to a lack of evidence showing current disability attributable to active service. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding these conditions.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU effective from November 3, 2012 until February 15, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for PTSD and TDIU, as the appellant withdrew his appeal. The left ankle disability and TBI residuals are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and degenerative joint diseases in multiple areas of the body, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral ankle conditions have been reopened, and the Board has decided that new and material evidence has been submitted. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle condition and bilateral elbow/forearm condition are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right and left ankle disabilities due to insufficient information regarding functional impairment during flare-ups or with repeated use over time.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's right ankle disorder. A new VA examination is required to assess and reconcile this conflicting evidence.

The Veteran withdrew all her claims, including those for service connection and increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left ankle disability was withdrawn by the Veteran during his October 2018 Board hearing.,Service connection for low back disability, including degenerative disease, is denied as there is no evidence of chronicity in service or within the applicable presumptive period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The right ankle disability was rated at 20% prior to May 26, 2006, and at 30% since then. The fracture of the right second metacarpal was rated at 10%. Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a right knee disorder were also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for right hand, ankle, and foot disabilities due to a lack of compliance with previous remands. The Veteran is asked to provide more information about his self-treatment since discharge from service.

The Veteran's spouse has withdrawn the appeals for service connection for a traumatic brain injury, increased ratings for PTSD, ankylosis of left little finger, and right ankle sprain with tenosynovitis.

The Veteran's lower extremities arthritis, left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, and right ankle arthritis are granted. The upper extremity arthritis is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint and muscle pain conditions due to an undiagnosed illness, as they are related to his military service in the Southwest Asia theater.

The Board has ordered a remand for the issue of entitlement to service connection for right elbow condition disability due to concerns about substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including bilateral hearing loss, left hip and knee disabilities, right hip disability, left ankle disability, bilateral arm disability, right chest condition, right elbow condition, and right flank condition. The back and right knee disability ratings are also being remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for a higher rating for right ankle disability and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's current address needs to be confirmed, and he should be provided with VA examination regarding his right ankle disability.

The Veteran's service-connected orthopedic disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the Board has granted entitlement to a TDIU.