Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for stomach cancer, left and right ankle disabilities, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine are being remanded due to new evidence or clarification needed.

The Board has denied service connection for a thyroid disability and remanded the issue of service connection for left ankle arthritis.

Service connection is granted for headaches, PTSD, and low back strain. Other issues are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right ankle fracture, as new evidence and testing are needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ankle strain, finding that there was no evidence to support a secondary relationship between his service-connected right ankle traumatic osteoarthritis and his current left ankle condition.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including knee disabilities and a TBI, have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The issues include right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, aggravation of preexisting migraine headaches, low back disability, right ankle disability, and traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran has elected to withdraw his appeals for various service connection claims, including those related to lung disorders, TBI, headaches, eye and teeth disorders, back issues, ankle and foot problems, and hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder due to new evidence received since the April 2009 denial. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient rationale provided by the August 2015 VA examiner regarding the etiology of various conditions, including right foot/ankle and left foot disorders, sleep apnea, hypertension, edema, kidney disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The issues are inextricably intertwined and require further examination.

The Veteran's insomnia is granted as a symptom of his service-connected PTSD. The right and left ankle disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for limitation of the right ankle, finding that there is no evidence linking his current disability to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle condition and substance-induced mood disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee and left ankle disorders, as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions to determine if these conditions are caused or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of service connection for right ankle, left ankle, right knee, and left knee conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The decision addresses the reduction of a 20 percent rating for right ankle injury to a 10 percent rating, which was improper and restored. The Board also remanded two issues: entitlement to a compensable evaluation for fracture of the left elbow radial head and entitlement to an increased evaluation for T10 and L1 compression fractures.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, Parkinson's Disease, was etiologically related to his in-service right ankle fracture. The medical opinions are evenly split on this issue, but the Board has resolved doubt in favor of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further development and examination, including consideration of an extraschedular rating for his right shoulder arthroplasty.

The Veteran was granted TDIU from February 8, 2015 until April 12, 2018 due to her service-connected disabilities preventing her from securing or following a substantial gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining any form of gainful employment. The Board has remanded the case for further examination to determine the impact of his low back disability on his employability.