Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's ganglion cyst of the left ankle and bilateral foot disability (claimed as plantar fasciitis) are not service-connected.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is service-connected, but only secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder. The hemorrhoids are denied due to their pre-existence in service, and sinusitis is denied based on lack of current diagnosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his right ankle strain is denied.,The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The claim for special monthly pension benefits is also being remanded as there appear to be outstanding medical treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for secondary service connection are remanded as the VA examiners did not adequately address whether her current disabilities were caused or aggravated by her service-connected left ankle disability.,The Veteran is seeking to establish that her cervical spine, right hip, bilateral knee, and right leg (claimed as leg length inequality) disabilities are related to her service-connected left ankle disability. The Board finds the VA examiners' opinions inadequate in this regard.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's left ankle disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence received after May 2016. The claims will be reviewed again and a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) must be issued.

The Veteran's PTSD, rated at 100% since October 18, 2012, and other service-connected disabilities combined to meet the criteria for a TDIU from May 1, 2015. Effective October 27, 2012, SMC at the housebound rate was granted.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a right ankle condition and granted service connection for arthritis of the right ankle, finding that there is new evidence showing aggravation during service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for Reiter's syndrome is denied. The Board has also remanded the TDIU claim due to the need for further examination and consideration.

For the entire period on appeal, an increased disability rating of 20 percent for a service-connected right ankle disability is granted. The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability warrants a higher rating due to marked limitation of range of motion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her left and right ankle conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5271.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since June 4, 2009. The Board grants a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings was denied, and the issues of rating his service-connected conditions were remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient examination reports and requests for retrospective medical opinions on the measurements required by VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and pension benefits have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to their severity and combination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further consideration of his character of discharge and service connection issues.

The Board has determined that remand is necessary for proper development of the issues, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sarcoidosis, cervical spine disorder, and various other conditions have been reopened. The Board finds that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.