Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board has denied service connection for left and right ankle disabilities, left eye conjunctivitis, and IBS. The Veteran's claims are remanded for a VA examination to determine if his bilateral pes planus was aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a right ankle disability because no new or material evidence was submitted, and the existing evidence did not establish a current disability related to service.

The Veteran withdrew the claims for service connection for lumbar strain, a left ankle condition, a sleep disorder, and headaches before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of an injury to his left ring finger, right ankle, bilateral arm numbness, and bilateral lower extremity sciatica as there is no evidence of a current disability or any link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of her service-connected left ankle sprain.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current left ankle disability is related to his service, including any in-service treatment for foot conditions.

The Board dismissed all appeals regarding service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal in May 2019. Service connection was granted for tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU, finding that the February 2004 rating decision is not final and there are no records in the claims file that can be construed as a formal or informal claim for TDIU prior to March 5, 2001.

The Veteran's claims for chronic right foot discoloration disorder, bilateral heel disorder, and increased rating for right ankle disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left ankle condition, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence to link any past injury to present symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left ankle disabilities have been remanded for further examination to determine the current severity of his conditions, as the previous examinations were not conducted during a flare-up.

The Veteran's right knee condition is granted a separate 10 percent rating for symptomatic removal of the meniscal cartilage. A 10 percent rating is also granted for left ankle strain, and a 30 percent rating is granted for irritable bowel syndrome. The appeal regarding ratings for left elbow lateral epicondylitis, right elbow lateral epicondylitis, and right knee limitation of motion from August 24, 2016 forward is remanded.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, including instability and swelling, is rated at a separate 10 percent for the first time since June 25, 2012. The higher rating for lateral right ankle instability and ligament rupture remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances were denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities caused wear and tear to his clothing.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claims for cervical spine, left shoulder, lumbar spine, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities were all denied. The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for allergic rhinitis was also denied.,The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of obesity secondary to service-connected hypertension was granted.

The Veteran's left ankle fracture residuals are remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of his service-connected condition, including range of motion testing. The issue is on appeal for an increased rating.

The Veteran's left ankle disorder is granted service connection.,The non-congenital lumbar spine disorders, including chronic lumbar sprain, degenerative disc disease, and lumbar spinal stenosis, are granted service connection. The radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities is also granted service connection.,Bertolli’s syndrome (a congenital lumbar spine disorder) is not addressed as it requires further clarification regarding whether it is a defect or a disease.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities due to missing medical records and inadequate examinations. The Veteran will need to provide any new evidence, and a new examination is required to determine if his current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has decided that there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's left knee and ankle issues are due to carelessness, negligence, or other fault on the part of VA in providing medical treatment. The case is being sent back for further examination.

The Veteran's application for Post-9/11 GI Bill educational assistance benefits was denied because she did not meet the eligibility criteria, specifically serving a minimum of 90 aggregate days of active duty excluding entry level and skill training or a minimum of 30 continuous days on active duty where she was discharged under other than dishonorable conditions due to a service-connected disability.