Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hand condition and a right ankle condition due to the lack of available service treatment records. The VA will obtain new medical opinions to address whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hand condition and a right ankle condition due to the lack of available service treatment records. The VA will obtain new medical opinions to address whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and the need for further evaluation.

The Board has granted effective dates of January 16, 2013 for the grants of service connection and evaluations for hypertension, right ankle sprain, right rotator cuff tear, and lumbosacral strain. The claim for PTSD remains denied as there is no evidence showing it existed prior to December 19, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral pes planus and right ankle disability have been denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for these conditions in January 2017 with an effective date of July 31, 2013, which is the earliest possible date based on the evidence of record.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee and left ankle disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The right knee disability issue is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. He is now rated with a 10% rating for his right lower leg scar, and he has received special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to the need for assistance in daily activities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral shoulder, knee, ankle, pes planus, eye, stomach, anxiety, and PTSD. The appeals are denied as there is no evidence of current or in-service disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle disorder, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s current tinnitus is related to noise exposure during his active military service.,For the right knee and heart disabilities, the Board found insufficient evidence to determine their relationship to service and remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's left ankle scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on its size or pain.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding increased evaluations for left and right ankle strains, as well as right foot plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various ankle, knee, wrist, elbow, hip, and foot conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The mental health disability is also found to be secondary to these musculoskeletal conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, PTSD with depressive disorder, left ankle degenerative changes, right knee degenerative arthritis, right knee laxity, and tinea and lymphocytic leukemia, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings for his service-connected right knee, left ankle, and cervical spine disorders due to a lack of VA examinations.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is being remanded for a more recent examination to determine the current severity of his condition and its impact on his ability to work and perform daily activities.

The Board has found that the Veteran's right ankle and right foot disabilities are not related to his VA medical treatment, and thus denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tension-type headaches. The cases of left knee disability, right knee disability, and right ankle disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral foot condition, respiratory disability (breathing problems), headaches, lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities, bilateral ankle disability, and sleeping disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations or medical opinions.