Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hip disability, left knee meniscal tear, and left ankle disability have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete STRs and insufficient medical opinions. The issues include sinusitis, neck disorder, back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, bilateral eye disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, heart disability (coronary atherosclerosis), left ankle disorder, and left foot disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the appeal is granted to this extent. The appeals for service connection are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left knee disability and left ankle disorder, as well as a rating for residuals of a left knee stab wound. The Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his active duty service or any service-connected condition, while the left ankle disorder may be secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for various musculoskeletal conditions, including chronic lumbar spine strain, right lower extremity neuropathy associated with chronic lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity neuropathy associated with chronic lumbosacral strain, chronic right supraspinatus tendonitis and subacromial bursitis and strain (right shoulder), chronic right peroneal tendonitis (right ankle), and right ankle strain was granted. The Veteran is now receiving a 40% rating for the lumbar spine strain since June 4, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left ankle disorders, as well as a left knee disorder. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is denied.,Additional evidence received since the February 1998 rating decision supports the Veteran's claims for right and left ankle disorders and left knee disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and insufficient medical evidence. The claims will be reviewed with additional information from the Veteran and further examination.

The claim for service connection for right ankle inflammatory arthritis is denied.,The claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and erectile dysfunction are granted.

The Veteran's appeals for various disabilities have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeals.

Service connection for residuals of hysterectomy is granted.,Service connection for vision loss and right ankle condition are denied. Service connection for left ankle condition is also denied.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the left finger and hand, as well as for the left foot and ankle condition. The decision stated that there was no evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of right ankle sprain are currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given the evidence showing moderate limitation of motion.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and the appeal for a higher rating remains pending. The right ankle disability was remanded due to insufficient examination findings.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot disorder, left foot disorder, left ankle disorder, and bilateral eye disorder due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities or a causal relationship with military service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on multiple disabilities have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the service connection claims for various knee and ankle conditions, hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea. The appellant's military duties are believed to have contributed to her current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and bilateral eye disability due to inadequate examination reports. Additional development is needed, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran was already reimbursed the $1,326.60 in attorney's fees originally withheld from his February 22, 2019 rating decision and is no longer seeking to have it returned.

The Veteran's dementia is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. He is also granted SMC based on aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, which require him to be in need of regular assistance. The Veteran is also eligible for specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for left and right shoulder conditions, right knee condition, left and right ankle conditions, headache condition (secondary to a service-connected disability), sleep condition (secondary to a service-connected disability), and heart condition.