Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are necessary to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, right knee, and right ankle disabilities. The claims for increased ratings and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remain pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left hip disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability as there was no evidence of moderate or worse impairment in any of these conditions.

The Veteran's left ankle condition is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to service, or aggravated by his service-connected back disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, lower back, left ankle, and right ankle conditions as there is no evidence that any current disability began during active service or is related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the right ankle and syrinx of the back have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran experienced continuous symptoms since service separation, which meets the criteria for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 50 percent rating prior to October 24, 2012. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also granted.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal signs or symptoms are found to be due to an undiagnosed illness and have been granted service connection. The right and left knee, foot and ankle disabilities, as well as the ear drum ruptures and back disability remain pending for further examination and determination.

The Board has granted service connection for cystic acne, hypertension, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, and tumor behind left ear. The Veteran's preexisting conditions were aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and he is granted service connection.,There is no evidence of left foot fungus beginning during active service or being related to an in-service injury. The claim for this condition is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for neck and left eye conditions. The case is remanded to determine the etiology of multiple sclerosis, as well as its relationship to other claimed conditions.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability is reopened and denied. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disability is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and has remanded several other issues related to service connection. The appeal is currently pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for evaluation of service-connected right foot plantar fasciitis, lumbar strain, left ankle surgery residuals, and left hip degenerative changes due to a lack of recent VA compensation examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment throughout the appeal period, warranting a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of hypertension, TDIU, and rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis of bilateral knees and ankles, a low back condition including arthritis, obstructive sleep apnea. The claims of service connection for these conditions are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle pain, finding that the Veteran's lay statements are sufficient to establish a current disability and linking it to his in-service injury. The decision also considers the impairment in earning capacity caused by the left ankle pain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle arthritis (gout), left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, bilateral eye disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision was based on a lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment for these conditions.

The Veteran's nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, right wrist joint pain, left knee chondromalacia of patella, right knee chondromalacia of patella, and left ankle sprain are granted service connection. The Veteran's hypertension is also granted service connection. However, the issues of higher initial ratings for chronic fatigue syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, non-migraine headaches, PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse disorder, TDIU prior to June 3, 2013, and special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria prior to June 3, 2013 are remanded.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, bilateral leg condition, bilateral ankle condition, respiratory disability, and psychiatric disability.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for coronary artery disease, but granted compensable ratings for constipation due to Parkinson's disease, the scar on the anterior chest, impairment of the vagus pneumogastric nerve, and impairment of the hypoglossal nerve.