Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to various disabilities, including a right knee disability that was reopened due to new and material evidence. The rating for bilateral pes planus remains at 30 percent. Other claims are pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right ankle sprain and left knee repairs due to inadequate VA examinations, lack of functional impairment assessment during flare-ups or repeated use, and need for new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a traumatic right ankle injury, finding that there was no chronic disability in service or within the applicable presumptive period and continuity of symptomatology is not established. The preponderance of evidence did not support a nexus between the current right ankle condition and an in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than March 25, 2014, and increased ratings for his left shoulder disorder were denied. His service connection claims for right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disorders are pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for broken right ankle, lower back pain, and residuals of head injury due to a lack of a VA examination in conjunction with these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle disability and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to reassess the severity of these disabilities.

The Board denied entitlement to nonservice-connected death pension benefits and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death. The Appellant's countable income exceeded the maximum annual income allowed for the payment of death pension benefits, and her statements did not establish that a service-connected disability caused or materially contributed to the Veteran’s death.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle disabilities due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. However, these claims are still pending as they have been REMANDED for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability of the left upper extremity was reopened and granted.,Other claims were remanded due to lack of complete application forms.,Service connection was restored for stress headaches, hypertension, valvular heart disease (mitral valve prolapse), iron deficiency anemia, allergic rhinitis, right shoulder sprain/strain, left shoulder sprain/strain, neck sprain and strain, right knee sprain/strain, left knee sprain/strain, right ankle sprain, right hallux valgus, left eye cortical cataract, acne, atrophic vaginitis, and OSA with CPAP.,The Veteran's service connection for fusion of the right fourth finger distal interphalangeal joint was denied as clearly erroneous.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further evaluation is needed.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted service connection as they are related to his military service. The left ankle and right ankle disabilities are denied as there is no current disability found.

The Board has granted service connection for various joint disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the left ankle, right knee, left knee, right hip, left hip, and right shoulder. The issues related to a right ankle disability have been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her left ankle disorder is granted, with a 20% rating effective October 25, 2018. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD remains on appeal.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis is granted. The left ankle, lumbar spine, and foot disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

Service connection for PTSD is granted, and a 10 percent disability rating for right ankle sprain is granted. The remaining issues are remanded.

Service connection for PTSD is granted, and a 10 percent disability rating for right ankle sprain is granted. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and active duty service or any service-connected conditions.

Service connection is granted for residuals of a bilateral ankle injury and arthritis of the cervical spine.,The Veteran's psychiatric disability (PTSD) claim remains pending as it requires further examination.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for back disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability have been granted. The Board found that the current diagnoses are related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are denied, except for the grant of service connection for pes planus in the left foot. The remaining issues have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.