Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. The VA examinations need to address whether his lumbar spine, right knee, right hip, left hip, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities are at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain has been granted service connection effective May 15, 2012. The appeal for left hip bursitis and bilateral fungal infection of the feet (jungle rot) is denied as there is no evidence they are related to service.,The Veteran's claim for sleep impairment (sleep apnea) is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of development regarding onset and etiology. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim is also remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee and left ankle disorders, finding that these conditions are aggravated by his service-connected left knee and right ankle disorders.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims. The claim for service connection was reopened, but the appeal is still pending as it has been remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no current diagnosis of a disability related to his active duty service. The evidence did not establish an in-service injury or disease, and the disabilities found are not shown to be causally related to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for left ankle sprain with crepitus, right ankle sprain with crepitus, and left foot bunion. Service connection was granted for right ear hearing loss but not for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, left ankle disability, left knee disability, left wrist disability, allergic rhinitis, and eustachian tube dysfunction.

The Board has granted service connection for anosmia and ageusia. The issues of low back condition, bilateral ankle condition, and bilateral foot condition are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for various conditions was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal. The claims were not substantiated.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle injury, left leg condition, and head trauma with migraines are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that was not previously considered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives, need for further development regarding Saunders v. Wilkie, and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected arthritis of the lumbar and cervical spine, as well as his right ankle disability, costochondritis, sinusitis, and headaches have been granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his low back disability was denied. The claims for increases in the ratings assigned for right ankle ligament strain, right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee retropatellar pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis, and mallet little finger, right hand are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, bilateral ankle, and bilateral foot disorders. The claim for right hand disorder was also denied as there is no current diagnosed disorder related to his period of service.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral ankle disability manifested by pain, finding that the Veteran's reported continuous ankle pain since service is sufficient to establish a current disability and its relationship to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the physical loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands or feet, nor does he have ankylosis of his knees or hips. Therefore, he is ineligible for financial assistance in purchasing a vehicle or adaptive equipment.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle sprain, low back muscle strain, facial skin rash, and PTSD. The Veteran's claims were reopened due to new evidence received more than one year after the October 1994 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss in the left ear and a left ankle disorder due to incomplete VA opinions. The Veteran is seeking an initial compensable rating for his service-connected residuals of a left 3rd metatarsal fracture.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination, requiring a new one with an appropriate clinician to determine if any current lower leg disability is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his left knee disability has been dismissed as he withdrew the appeal.,The Veteran's right ankle disability claim is reopened and will be decided on its merits. The Board requested additional evidence to support this decision, including medical records from his 2011 surgery.,The Veteran was granted compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for right lower extremity numbness and tingling due to a surgical procedure in March 2011.