Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD with generalized anxiety disorder has been granted service connection.,Multiple Sclerosis, right wrist disorders (including carpal tunnel syndrome), and other conditions are remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder, finding that his current chronic traumatic left ankle sprain was incurred during active service in the United States Army.

The Veteran's PTSD, acne, back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and gastrointestinal disorder are all remanded for further examination and opinion. The appeal is not about service connection.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the appeal for an increased evaluation has been denied.,PTSD was initially granted with a 70% rating from June 26, 2007 to April 11, 2011. The Veteran appealed for a higher initial evaluation and earlier effective date. The claim is currently pending.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression. The right knee and left ankle disabilities were also denied. Service connection was not granted for the right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for a TBI and initial ratings for various musculoskeletal conditions. The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood is rated at 70 percent. Initial ratings for his shoulder strains, wrist tendonitis, little finger strain, lumbar degenerative joint disease, knee patellofemoral syndrome, left ankle strain, right ankle strain, and tinnitus are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his use of a fentanyl patch prescribed for his service-connected disabilities was related to his death from fentanyl toxicity. The appeal is based on direct service connection and not due to any presumption or new evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Board has also remanded the issues of systemic joint, thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral knee, bilateral ankle, peripheral vestibular, scars, hypertension, and migraine headaches disabilities, as well as acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD).

The claims to reopen the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including right ankle arthritis, back disability, bilateral lower extremity pain and swelling, left foot drop/abnormal gait, cervical spine/neck disability, residuals of a tibia fracture, right ear hearing loss, allergic condition, asthma, dermatitis (swelling of the groin area), and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) are granted. Service connection is established for these conditions based on their direct relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right ankle, and psychiatric disorders. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to April 20, 2014, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for left ankle disability due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral ankle disorders due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service. The Veteran's claim will be further evaluated after a VA examination.

The Veteran's left elbow, right ankle, and right knee disabilities are being remanded for further examination to determine their etiology. The Veteran's bilateral pinguecula is also being remanded.,A temporary total rating for the Veteran's right knee disability cannot be decided without first addressing his other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent rating for his right wrist scapholunate ligament injury is granted. The issue of service connection for a right ankle disorder is remanded.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right ankle status post-surgery and right Achilles scar, finding that the symptoms did not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a left ankle disability due to incomplete records and an unclear examination. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any outstanding service treatment records, especially those from Germany, and attempt to retrieve private medical records related to the Veteran's ankle injury. A new VA examination will be scheduled to determine if the Veteran's current left ankle disability is etiologically related to his in-service injury.

The claim of service connection for a bilateral ankle condition is remanded due to the need for an adequate VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an examination, as there is insufficient evidence regarding the onset of the Veteran's current left ankle disability.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of left hand, right hand, left shoulder, right shoulder, and right elbow conditions as secondary to his service-connected cervical strain with degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues, including service connection for various conditions and evaluations of his disabilities. The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to properly assess the nature and etiology of these claims.