Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation and 38 U.S.C. § 1151 benefits are remanded due to the need for clarification of the relationship between his lithium use and the occurrence of his claimed symptoms, as well as a determination on the propriety of the use of lithium in this particular case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The new examinations must address whether these conditions are related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to conflicting evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current respiratory, low back, left ankle, and right ankle conditions are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, left ankle disorder, left foot disorder, and sinus disorder has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability of these conditions.,For the initial compensable rating claim, the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 0 percent as his puretone thresholds did not meet the criteria for an exceptional pattern of hearing impairment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle disability due to insufficient medical evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's disability rating for joint pain associated with the ankles, hips, elbows, and lumbosacral spine was reduced from 20 percent to 10 percent. The Board has restored the 20 percent rating effective February 1, 2017.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle disorder and hypertension as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that could be linked to these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it had onset within one year of separation from active service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee, right knee, and left ankle disabilities based on evidence that is at least in equipoise with the claim. The Board found that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial compensable rating for left ankle scar, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left hip strain with limitation of extension, right hip strain, and left hip strain impairment of the thigh due to outstanding VA and private treatment records and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal concerning the issue of entitlement to service connection for a disorder manifested by blood in the urine has been dismissed. The right ankle sprain residuals are rated at 20 percent, and hypertension is granted with secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left ankle disability related to active service or any incident of service, including as due to his service-connected right ankle disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for various conditions related to PTSD and herbicide exposure. The Board has remanded these issues due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran is seeking TDIU, but this claim is dismissed as moot since he already receives a 100% disability rating for his PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of left leg and foot injury is denied as there are no other disabling effects not considered in the ratings provided under Diagnostic Codes 7800-04.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability and remanded the issue of an increased rating for a back disability.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his service-connected left knee and right ankle disabilities were denied. The Board found that the current ratings adequately reflected the severity of the disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of adequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right ankle disability and his service-connected left ankle disability. The Veteran will need to undergo an examination to determine if his current nerve compression syndrome is related to his left ankle disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle condition and whether to reopen his claim of service connection for a lumbar spine condition is being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot condition (plantar fasciitis) and cervical spine condition (claimed as C3 and C4 disc herniation with mild central stenosis) is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current right ankle disability and his service. The examiner is asked to provide a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence and to obtain additional medical records. The issues include cervical spine disorder, back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and right carpal tunnel syndrome.