Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed disabilities, as the previous VA examination was inadequate and does not address secondary service connection.

The Board denied service connection for joint pains with fevers, right ankle disability, hearing loss, asthma, liver disorder, gallstones, and hypothyroidism. The issue of severance of service connection for generalized anxiety disorder was remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied, and the issue of an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right ankle sprain is remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right ankle disorder and remanded his claims for increased ratings on left knee and left ankle disabilities, as well as entitlement to TDIU. The Veteran needs to undergo VA examinations for these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of right ankle fracture, and an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, bilateral ankle, and left leg neuropathy claims require additional examination to determine their etiology. The Veteran's residuals of tibia and fibula fracture with degenerative joint disease of the left knee claim also requires a new VA examination for an accurate assessment.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and a bilateral hip condition were initially denied in an April 2010 rating decision. The Board has reopened these claims due to new and material evidence.,Both the left hip disability and right ankle disability claims are remanded as there is insufficient evidence to grant service connection.

The Veteran's ankle injury was treated at a non-VA facility due to delay in seeking medical attention. The Board found that the treatment was necessary and that a VA facility was not feasibly available, thus granting payment or reimbursement for the medical expenses incurred.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, left ankle disability, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including tinnitus, headaches, heart disability, hypertension, lumbar spine disability, bilateral flatfoot and plantar fasciitis, and residuals of a left ankle injury. The issues have been remanded due to outstanding VA and private treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The claims of service connection for left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, and right ankle disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of his left ankle disability was granted, with a 20% disability rating effective from the date of the decision. The claims for service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities were reopened due to new evidence received since the final denial in July 2012. Service connection for cervical spine condition was also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, glaucoma, PTSD, migraine headaches secondary to sleep apnea syndrome, left ankle disorder, left foot disorder, right foot disorder, right elbow disorder, chronic sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, undiagnosed illness, medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness, and right ear hearing loss have been dismissed. The Veteran's claim for glaucoma has been reopened but not granted.

The Veteran's appeal for whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for left ankle disorder, to include arthritis, is dismissed. The Veteran's request for a compensable rating for meralgia paresthetica of the left inguinal nerve was also dismissed as there is no legal basis for the assignment of a compensable schedular rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a distal fibular stress fracture of the right ankle is granted as his current condition began during active service and is linked to that injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus was at least as likely as not aggravated during active service. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his right ankle disability was denied due to failure to participate in a VA examination. The Board has decided that the case should be remanded to allow the Veteran to provide necessary information and undergo a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case because they need more information about whether the Veteran's current low back disorder is related to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient notice of a rating decision and for additional development regarding his bilateral knee, ankle disabilities, seizure disorder, and hernia.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, low back disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder due to in-service parachute jumps. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis as they are related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.