Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The rating for PTSD remains unchanged as the symptoms do not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right elbow bursitis, and right ankle condition are related to his military service. However, due to incomplete records and conflicting medical opinions, the claims for these conditions must be remanded to obtain additional evidence and provide a thorough examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear tinnitus but has remanded the left ankle condition due to lack of definitive proof that the Veteran's National Guard service was qualifying.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's preexisting bilateral flat foot disability worsened during his periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA). The issues are being remanded for VA examinations to provide opinions on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee, left knee, right hip, lower back, left ankle, and right foot disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of various conditions including left shoulder, right shoulder, left hand, right hand, right hip, left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, and bilateral lower extremities. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hand disorder, neck disorder, and lumbar spine disorder were denied as not related to service or service-connected conditions. The claim for left knee disorder was reopened due to new evidence linking it to his right knee disability.,The Veteran's right ankle disorder was granted based on the submission of new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and assessments of his thoracolumbar spine, left hip, and left ankle conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied prior to August 3, 2016 and remanded for further evaluation of his TDIU claim from August 3, 2016 to August 16, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and examination to determine if his current disabilities are related to service, including any in-service injuries or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disabilities, as he contends that they are secondary to his service-connected fungal skin condition and furunculosis. The VA examinations did not address the question of aggravation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cold weather injury residuals of the bilateral lower extremities and bilateral posterior tibial nerve lesion at the ankle (tarsal tunnel syndrome) is being remanded due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability, increased rating for a right shoulder disability, and TDIU due to insufficient evidence in some of the VA examinations provided. The Veteran will be given new VA examinations to determine the likely etiology of his current disabilities and their severity.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the need for further development and examination. The main issues are related to service connection, rating higher than 30 percent for bilateral pes planus, and psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability, migraine headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea are not service-connected. The claims for these conditions have been remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic fatigue, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are granted. The claims for bilateral hip, knee, and ankle conditions are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and ankle conditions due to inadequate examination and incomplete medical records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle disabilities, prostatitis, and a right-hand disability (right carpal tunnel syndrome) as they are not related to his military service or any presumptive exposure. The Board also denied entitlement to TDIU due to incarceration.

The Veteran's claims for various disabilities, including sleep disorder, respiratory disorder, acne scar disability, right shoulder disability, thoracolumbar spine (back) disability, left and right wrist disabilities, left and right knee disabilities, shin splints, and ankle disabilities have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.