Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome and mild instability are rated at 10% each, while her total replacement arthroplasty is denied. The case for the right ankle fracture remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of in-service injury or disease related to his current conditions.

The Veteran's claim for osteoporosis of the bilateral upper extremities is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claims for left and right knee conditions are denied as he does not have a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claims for left and right ankle conditions are denied as he does not have a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claim for temporal arteritis is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claim for sinusitis is granted, with the condition beginning during his active service.

The Board denied service connection for the right ankle condition as there was no in-service incident related to the Veteran's right ankle, and the available service treatment records do not support a nexus to his active service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection for his right and left ankle conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for these conditions due to a lack of current diagnoses.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability was reopened and granted. The appeal is remanded to determine the etiology of any current left ankle disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including shoulder, elbow, neck, hip, left knee, right knee, left ankle, arm, leg, hand, sinusitis, heart, hypertension, stomach, cancer, foot, diabetes mellitus, brain injury, and seizure disability. The decision was based on the lack of competent evidence supporting these claims.,The Board also remanded service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory disability, headache, earlier effective date for right ankle disability, and service connection for a disability of the hips.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the bilateral hands was reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for right foot plantar fasciitis/tendonitis, TMJ syndrome, and bilateral patellofemoral knee syndrome. The issue of increased rating for right ankle condition remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone precluded him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to November 16, 2016. Effective November 16, 2016, the Veteran was granted entitlement to TDIU on a schedular basis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and updated VA treatment records being available.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a back disorder and bilateral ankle disorders due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right and left ankle degenerative joint disease, as well as his claim for TDIU due to lack of sufficient examination information.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is rated at 10 percent, but no more. The lumbar strain and bilateral knee disorders are each rated at 10 percent.,PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating prior to January 31, 2014, with the possibility of an increased rating from that date onwards.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left and right ankle sprain associated with bilateral pes planus are granted at a 10 percent level.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims, including for status post fractured coccyx and various cold injury residuals. The Veteran's ulcerative colitis claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for right shoulder, left shoulder, right hip, and left ankle disabilities due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection issues.

The Board has granted service connection for an ulcer disability. The issues of service connection for the remaining conditions are remanded.

The Board has determined that more development is necessary before final adjudication of the claims on appeal, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities and whether they are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, and pseudofolliculitis barbae as there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.