Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims, except for the claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability which has been reopened.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his left ankle disability and inguinal hernia scar due to insufficient evidence in support of these claims.

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

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination regarding his left ankle injury. The bilateral hearing loss rating remains denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic joint pain, bilateral ankle disabilities, elbow medial epicondylitis, shoulder degenerative arthritis, and wrist de Quervain's syndrome have all been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a qualifying chronic disability manifested by joint pain due to military service in Southwest Asia as his poly-joint pain has been attributed to diagnosed disabilities.,The Veteran was unable to establish current diagnoses for bilateral ankle disabilities, elbow medial epicondylitis, and wrist de Quervain's syndrome. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability of either ankle or wrists.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral ankle disability. The right shoulder and low back disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's left elbow disability is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred during active duty.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or continuity of symptoms post-service.,The Veteran's left leg disability (tingling and numbness) is not service-connected because the radicular symptoms are not linked to any service-connected condition.,The Veteran's left ankle disability is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's service connection claims for low back, left ankle, and bilateral hand conditions are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Board denied TDIU as the evidence did not show that his left ankle disability rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder was reopened, and he is now granted service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder.,An effective date of August 1, 2013 has been assigned for the grant of service connection for his right knee disability.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's left ankle disability and a separate 10 percent rating for left ankle instability.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for right knee arthroscope and arthritis, left ankle arthritis, and left knee meniscectomy and arthritis. The appeals for initial compensable ratings for hemorrhoids as of October 7, 2014, and hypothyroidism are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral foot disability, right ankle disability, and left leg disability. The claims of service connection for tinnitus (secondary to hearing loss) and diabetes mellitus (secondary to herbicide agent exposure) are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's ankle disabilities are remanded for further examination and determination of their etiology. The claims are inextricably intertwined as the left ankle disability may be secondary to the right ankle disability.

The appeal regarding the right ankle disorder is dismissed. The issues of service connection for sleep dysfunction (including as secondary to acquired psychiatric disorder) and aggravation of pre-existing condition are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral ankle, elbow, feet and toe, hip, and shoulder arthritis as the evidence did not establish a relationship to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left ankle fracture was denied as the evidence did not show ankylosis of the ankle, which is required for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a fractured right tibia and fibula, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left ankle, degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the lumbar spine, chronic strain and arthritis of the right knee, and chronic strain and arthritis of the left knee. The conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.