Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder, bilateral knee disorders (left and right), left ankle disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, iritis, and tinnitus are related to service.,Service connection is granted for a low back disorder, bilateral knee disorders (left and right), left ankle disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, iritis, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to inextricably intertwined issues of service connection for a right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and left foot disability. The Veteran's right ankle disability is believed to be secondary to his left ankle and foot conditions.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, but the Board denied an increased rating.,The reduction from 30% to noncompensable for bilateral hearing loss was found improper and restored with effective date of January 1, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disabilities, prostate disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, heart condition, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, osteopenia, cervical spine disability, neurological impairment of the upper extremities, shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer is being remanded as his prostatitis may be related to his current prostate disability. Additional development is needed regarding whether he has any residual disability from the prostatitis shown in service.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, chronic gastritis with GERD, and hemorrhoids are being remanded as his most recent examinations in August 2017 were inadequate. Additional development is needed to determine the current functional impairment resulting from these disabilities.,

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded for further development regarding his service connection claims and rating issues. The Veteran wishes to withdraw his claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar strain (low back) disability, left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran is granted service connection for right ankle strain and the effective date of this grant is set at May 11, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that more evidence is needed to determine if his disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted service connection. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left and right ankle disabilities due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's right eye condition and hypertension were denied as they are not related to service. The Board found no evidence of a superimposed disease or injury during service for the right eye condition, and there is no indication that the current wrist, back, ankle, and psychiatric conditions are related to military service.,The Veteran's bilateral wrist, lumbar spine, and right ankle disabilities were remanded as VA needs to determine if they are related to her military duties. The acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD) and mental disorder for treatment purposes were also remanded due to the need to corroborate the in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased rating and TDIU due to inadequate examination findings, specifically regarding range of motion testing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury, finding that there is no current disability due to an in-service injury and attributing any swelling to postservice causes.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection, but his Tietze’s syndrome and left knee disability are denied. The case is remanded for further development regarding the left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and interstitial lung disease, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board has granted a higher level of special monthly compensation based on this need.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to missing service treatment records and requests for additional information from the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle/foot disability, lumbar degenerative joint disease, and related issues due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was also denied for left lower extremity neuropathy with obturator nerve involvement as there is no direct evidence or link between the condition and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle sprain, which occurred during a period of INACDUTRA, is service-connected.

The Veteran's initial and increased rating claims for his right ankle disorder have been granted, with the highest available ratings. The Veteran is also entitled to a higher rating for his right lower extremity distal sural neuropathy.,Service connection for left hip and left knee disorders remains pending as additional evidence or examination may be required.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including the patellectomy and arthritis, is rated at 60 percent effective February 27, 2017. The rating for scars associated with the right knee remains unchanged.