Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, hopelessness, polysubstance and nicotine dependence. The Veteran's right ankle disability was also denied.,Both the bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus issues were remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional medical records.

The Board found no current left knee or right ankle disabilities and denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, and thus remands the cases for further development.

The Veteran's psychiatric condition, diagnosed as unspecified depressive disorder, is granted. The Board also remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and effective dates for increased ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of loss of use of extremities, blindness in both eyes with 20/200 visual acuity or less, and other specific requirements.

The Veteran's claim for clothing allowances for his service-connected back, left knee and left ankle braces was denied as the braces did not wear and tear his clothing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD), and left knee disability were denied. The right ankle fracture claim resulted in a 30% rating since January 31, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran is found to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, which include musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. The Board grants special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right ankle disabilities, but denied initial compensable ratings for left and right elbow disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied. The initial evaluations for dysthymic disorder, tibia/fibular fracture with shin splints, right ankle, and tarsal tunnel syndrome, right foot were all denied. The umbilical hernia and residuals of laceration of the flexor tendon, left index finger, claims were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, hypertension, and other conditions have been denied. The Board has found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service disease or injury related to these conditions.,The Veteran was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist and right wrist after discharge from service, but no in-service complaints or diagnoses were noted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left ankle disability. The issue of increased rating remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle disability and left knee arthritis, but denied service connection for right testicle microlithiasis and left hand tremors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that there was no evidence of an abnormal gait and rejecting his contention that his current right ankle condition is related to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic myositis of the cervical and lumbar spine muscles, as well as degenerative joint disease of multiple joints including shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, ankles, and feet. These conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disability is granted.,The Veteran's requests to reopen the claims of service connection for residuals of a bilateral super rectus fader operation, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety are granted.,Service connection for bipolar disorder is granted.,An earlier effective date of December 5, 2005, but not earlier, for the award of service connection for a left ankle sprain is granted.,An earlier effective date of December 5, 2005, but not earlier, for the award of service connection for a right ankle sprain is granted.,An earlier effective date of February 22, 2012, but not earlier, for the award of an increased rating to 10 percent for status post left wrist trauma with arthroscopy with triangular fibrocartilage complex is granted.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the award of an increased rating of 10 percent for the right wrist sprain is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for hypertension is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for status post left foot trauma is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for status post left knee ACL repair and medial meniscectomy with residual degenerative arthritis is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for chronic cervical strain is denied.

Service connection is denied for bilateral pes planus, lumbar strain, scoliosis, bilateral ankle disorder (shin splints), fibromyalgia, and bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is granted for tinnitus.,The Veteran's pes planus was noted at the time of entrance into service but did not permanently worsen in active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right ankle disability and depression, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 8, 2010. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.