Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's right ankle disability was rated at 10 percent prior to March 24, 2017 and increased to 30 percent effective from that date.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left ankle disability, and that further development may be necessary for the TDIU claim. The case is being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional information and medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions, particularly asthma, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The VA will also verify the alleged in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder are being remanded due to incomplete service records and need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for low back, right hip, right knee, and right ankle disabilities due to outstanding questions regarding diagnoses, functional impairment, and nexus.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left ankle disorder is granted due to the continuity of symptoms after service, meeting the requirements for presumptive service connection for arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for annual clothing allowances were denied as there was no evidence that any of his claimed appliances or medications caused wear and tear to his clothing in the 2012 calendar year.

The Board denied service connection for right lower extremity disorder, finding that the Veteran's reported symptoms did not have a link to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded multiple issues on appeal, including the rating for right hip strain, left knee and ankle strains, left tibia stress fracture, acne (claimed as eczema), anemia, and a psychiatric disorder. The Veteran is also requested to provide updated VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his service-connected MDD and anxiety disorder, as well as for TDIU based on these conditions, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle disorders due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of his right thumb disability due to withdrawal by his representative. The issues of service connection for left hand, sleep apnea, colon disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, dental disability, and ankle disabilities are denied.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right ankle conditions as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various conditions due to a lack of VA examination opinions regarding their etiology.

Service connection for glaucoma is granted. Service connection for right and left ankle disorders are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims of service connection for bilateral ankle disability, low back disability, right hip disability, and bilateral pes planus. The Board also found that there was no medical nexus between these disabilities and his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a right leg/ankle disability due to missing medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for reopening of service connection for various conditions, finding no new and material evidence to support these claims.

The Board has decided to remand several claims for further development due to incomplete service treatment records and untranslated Spanish documents. The Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, left ankle, bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depressive disorders), right knee meniscal tear, and hypertension claims are being returned for additional examination and review.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, dyslipidemia, low back disorder, DJD of the hips, knees, ankles, and feet, skeletal body pain, diabetes mellitus type II (DM II), diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and hypertension were all denied as they are not related to his military service.