Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, right ankle disability, and male reproductive organ disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his ankle strain, left foot condition, and restless leg syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating of PTSD was granted, and she is now receiving a 70% disability rating. The Board also found that the Veteran meets the criteria for TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left hip disability, including strain and osteoarthritis, is due to in-service trauma from parachute jumps. The right ankle disability was also caused by repeated trauma during service. Sleep apnea had its onset in service and continues since then. Migraine headaches began in service.,Right hip arthritis with limitation of extension and loss of flexion are currently rated as non-compensable, but further evaluation is needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 20% rating for his service-connected right ankle disability, finding that the July 29, 2002 statement in support of claim was not a claim for increased rating but rather a claim for service connection. The May 2003 denial of service connection for left ankle did not affect the effective date for the right ankle.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that there was no evidence linking her current condition to service or any injury incurred therein.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral ankle tendonitis, finding that his current condition is due to an injury sustained during basic training.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability, finding clear and unmistakable evidence that the pre-existing condition existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's preexisting left ankle instability did not worsen during his military service.

Service connection is granted for a left ankle disability, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The left ear hearing loss was also granted on an aggravation basis.,The Veteran's current left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are considered to be due to noise exposure during military service.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to the veteran's claims as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury, but finds that a VA examination is required before the claim can be decided on the merits.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disability, right ankle disability, and erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including right shoulder numbness, left ankle condition, angina (chest pain), inguinal abscess pain, low back strain, fracture of the left ring finger, compression fracture at C5-6, residuals of circumcision and balanitis, and left cervical radiculopathy with degenerative disc disease in the left upper extremity. The remand is due to the need for additional VA treatment records from March 2018 onwards.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent for chondromalacia patella, with a separate 30 percent rating for severe recurrent subluxation.,Service connection has been granted for headaches and reopened claims for left knee and left ankle conditions.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected, but his right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for VA compensation. The Board has also remanded issues related to his foot/ankle condition, sleep condition (REM behavior disorder and OSA), and acquired psychiatric disorder.,Service connection for the Veteran’s acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending due to its inextricability with the service connection claim for his foot/ankle condition.

The Veteran's right ankle instability and tendinitis are being remanded for further development as the RO has not considered all pertinent evidence since January 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination following his surgeries, as the current level of severity post-operation has not been assessed.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for bilateral hip, knee, and ankle pain due to insufficient examination reports and lack of rationale in the opinions provided.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and anxiety (to include as secondary to bilateral ankle injuries). The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,The Board also noted that the Veteran had current diagnoses of left and right ankle disorders but did not find any in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. Similarly, the Board denied service connection for anxiety as it was not linked to his military service.