Ankle decisions — 2019

The appeal of service connection for sleep apnea is dismissed. The appeals for right wrist injury, neck injury, left hip injury, right ankle injury, and left ankle injury are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of both ankles, bilateral elbow disability, and left hand disability as secondary to residuals of left knee injury with instability.

The Veteran's dyshidrotic eczema, bladder cancer, vision impairment, and osteoarthritis of the left ankle have not been granted compensable ratings or service connection. The claims for dyshidrotic eczema and vision impairment are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for bladder cancer is denied as there is no evidence linking it to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The claim for osteoarthritis of the left ankle is also denied due to lack of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle sprain as secondary to his service-connected right knee strain. The decision resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded.,An effective date earlier than July 15, 2014 has not been granted for the grants of separate evaluations for impairment and limitation of flexion of the left hip.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left ankle disability, and right knee disability have been denied.,Service connection has been granted for the Veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension.

The Veteran's right ankle condition is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has remanded this issue for further development. The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is now rated at 40 percent effective February 22, 2016.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection. The RO must obtain updated VA treatment records from various facilities and associate them with the claims file.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension was denied in May 2017, and the appeal is now denied.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, is denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service or within one year post-service.,The Veteran's left ankle injury is not considered to have manifested during service. The claim is therefore denied.,There is insufficient evidence linking the Veteran’s unspecified anxiety disorder (including PTSD) to his military service. Service connection for this condition is also denied.,Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, but diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and left ankle injury claims remain denied.,The claim for tinnitus is granted as it began during active duty.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection of various musculoskeletal disabilities, including bilateral foot, right and left ankle, and low back conditions. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board has also remanded several issues for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging a VA examination for the Veteran's bilateral ankle disability. The claim for service connection for vitiligo is also being remanded due to new evidence from the Air Force.

The Veteran's emergency treatment at Providence Holy Family Hospital was denied because a VA facility was feasibly available and an attempt to use it beforehand would have been considered reasonable by a prudent layperson.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been denied. The left shoulder sprain is rated at 20 percent, the left ankle disability from September 8, 2011 to July 11, 2019 is also rated at 20 percent, and for any period after that, a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran's entitlement to TDIU has been rendered moot due to his receipt of a combined 100% schedular disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from finding and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded several claims for service connection due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities have been remanded due to new evidence received since the final February 2008 Board decision. The appeal is also remanded for initial rating determinations on other service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of adequate medical opinion and for further examination. The Veteran's left ankle disability is being reviewed again.

The Veteran's right ankle brace, which is used for his service-connected right ankle fracture, causes damage to his clothing. The Board has granted a clothing allowance for the 2018 calendar year due to this issue.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active service and have continued since. The claim for left ankle sprain was denied as there is no medical evidence linking the current condition to in-service injury.