Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection are granted for tinnitus, head injury (TBI), and headache disorder. The Board finds the Veteran has credible evidence of in-service events that support these claims. However, his claims for right total knee replacement, left ankle fracture, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are remanded as there is insufficient medical opinion to establish a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and hyperhidrosis, finding no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and right ankle disorders due to inadequate examination reports and the need for further medical inquiry.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to additional relevant evidence being added to his claims file.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient VA etiological opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed right and left knee disabilities, as well as his left ankle disability. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for a right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder have been denied as there is no current disability found in the record. The Board acknowledges the Veteran’s reports of pain but finds that it does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability.

The Veteran's migraine headache disability is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.,The Veteran’s back, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities are presumed due to exposure to an IED blast during service. The Veteran has been remanded for additional examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left ankle disability is remanded due to incomplete information and the need for updated VA medical records, SSA records, and an orthopedic examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right ankle disorder is related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder and left ankle disabilities due to insufficient information regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle disability, low back disability (secondary to ankle), and bilateral knee disability (secondary to ankle) due to incomplete records of treatment. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain his medical records from private providers who have treated him since 1969.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including lower back condition, left leg condition, left knee condition, bilateral hips conditions, bilateral ankle conditions, bilateral foot conditions, anxiety, depression, COPD, headaches, and loss of right kidney are denied.,Right knee and right leg conditions are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right ankle, status post fracture and ankle replacement is rated at 40 percent effective July 1, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sarcoidosis, left foot disability, and right ankle disability due to incomplete records and the need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the effective dates being prior to the date of receipt of the claim.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right wrist disorder, bilateral pes planus, left and right ankle disorders, and low back disorder due to additional development being needed.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and rating actions due to inadequate previous examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left ankle disability is remanded due to the need for further medical examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral ankle talocalcaneal coalition disability is service-connected as it was incurred during his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral knee pain, ankle pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome were not shown to have begun during service or be related to in-service injury or disease.,Hypercholesterolemia is a laboratory finding without underlying disability. The claim for this condition is denied.,Hypertension was not shown within the first post-service year and there is no evidence of its onset during service. The claim is denied.,Dyspnea (shortness of breath) was not shown within the first post-service year and there is no evidence of its onset during service. The claim is denied.,The Veteran's heart disabilities were not shown to have begun during service or be related to in-service injury or disease. The claims are denied.