Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of right hip, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to new evidence received since the February 2000 rating decision. The claims are now pending for further adjudication.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals regarding the left foot, right foot, and left ankle disabilities during a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee is rated at 10 percent, and his residuals of a right ankle fracture with recurrent strains are rated at 20 percent since May 18, 2017. The Board has remanded several issues for further development.

The Veteran's left ankle fracture and bilateral hearing loss have worsened since the last examinations, and a remand is needed for VA examinations to evaluate their current severity.

The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, as the current VA examiner's opinion is inadequate. The Veteran contends that his sleep apnea is due or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, but the examiner did not consider these factors in their assessment.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, right ankle melanoma, left wrist disorders, and left club foot. The appeals are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is partially granted, with a noninitial disability rating of 20 percent for his service-connected left ankle sprain status post reconstruction with arthritis. The issue of service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis as secondary to the service-connected left ankle condition is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle sprain residuals and a left knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, throat condition (pharyngitis), sleep apnea, and left ankle disability due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, throat condition (pharyngitis), sleep apnea, and left ankle disability due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with osteoarthritis was restored to a 20 percent evaluation effective April 1, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims for PTSD, bilateral shoulder, wrist, and hand disabilities due to inadequate development. The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is also remanded as there was not substantial compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of left and right ankle disabilities, as well as hearing loss and tinnitus. The issues were withdrawn prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle arthritis and residuals of a fracture of the right fourth metatarsal, finding that these conditions were aggravated by service. The claim for right ear hearing loss is also granted as it may be related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to unresolved issues and further examination is needed. The Veteran's right knee, left knee, left ankle, and stress fractures of the left tibia and fibula are not currently service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including gout affecting his ankles and knees, obstructive sleep apnea, lumbosacral degenerative discogenic disease, hypertension, eczema, left occipital neuralgia, plantar fasciitis of the left heel, osteoarthritis of the left first metatarsophalangeal joint, right thumb residual fracture fragmentation, internal hemorrhoids, and status post neoplasm excisions of the large intestine, are found to be so severe that they prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was granted service connection as it began during active service.,Regarding left ankle achilles tendonitis, the Board remanded for additional evidence and a new examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, right ankle disability, and claustrophobia due to a lack of VA examination and incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional medical records to be obtained and a new VA examination to assess the severity of his left ankle strain.

The Veteran's OSA is related to his period of active service and has been granted. The Veteran's right ankle injury and bilateral hearing loss do not meet the criteria for service connection.