Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis was rated 10% prior to February 11, 2015 and not higher. The effective date for the assignment of a 20% disability rating is denied.,PTSD service connection was granted with an effective date of February 11, 2015. Prior claims were not adjudicated as they were final due to lack of appeal within one year.,Left ankle degenerative arthritis, partial tear and thickling of anterior talofibular ligament and tenosynovitis posterior tibialis tendon was granted with an effective date of February 11, 2015. Prior claims were not adjudicated as they were final due to lack of appeal within one year.,Left calf muscle atrophy was granted with an effective date of February 11, 2015. Prior claims were not adjudicated as they were final due to lack of appeal within one year.,Left knee strain service connection was granted with an effective date of February 11, 2015. Prior claims were not adjudicated as they were final due to lack of appeal within one year.

The Board dismissed the claim of service connection for a left ankle disorder as moot because it was granted in an October 2018 rating decision. The issue of chronic fatigue immune deficiency is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle condition and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for new evidence to reopen some of the claims. The VA is instructed to obtain SSA records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to July 9, 2014 for a 10% rating for his right ankle disability is denied. The Board found that there was no factual basis during the one-year period preceding July 9, 2014, to support an increase in the severity of the Veteran's right ankle disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral ankle arthritis and has remanded this issue due to a lack of a Statement of the Case. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist, right ankle, and skin disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various ankle, knee, hip, and buttock pain disabilities due to outstanding treatment records and further medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle, bilateral knee, and lumbar spine degenerative joint diseases as part of the already service-connected generalized arthritic process.

The Board denied service connection for gouty arthritis of the bilateral feet and ankles, as well as degenerative joint disease of the left wrist, both claimed as gouty arthritis. The VA examiners found no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral ankle disabilities are related to injuries he sustained during service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability. The conditions are found to be at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is now rated at 10 percent, and his lumbar spine disability is now rated at 20 percent. The service connection for the right knee disability remains pending.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right knee disability is denied as there is no evidence that the current condition began during her period of active duty.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for her right ankle disability is also denied due to lack of evidence showing marked limitation of motion.,The Veteran's GERD service connection claim requires further evaluation as there are no recent medical records available to assess the current severity of her condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including a thoracolumbar spine disability, prostate cancer, headaches, gastrointestinal disability manifesting in nausea and vomiting, and inability to conceive. These issues are being remanded.

The Veteran's right index finger and right ankle disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to insufficient medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and bilateral hearing loss, as well as the right ankle disability claim. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and an earlier effective date for increased rating for right ankle condition. The decision found no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and active service, or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased evaluations have been dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of these issues prior to a decision being made.