Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and right ankle disabilities have been reopened, but the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and traumatic arthritis of the cervical spine with tension headaches, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot, right shoulder, cervical stenosis with spondylotic myelopathy, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's GERD and left ankle strain have been rated at the minimum disability ratings, with no evidence of symptoms that warrant higher evaluations.,Further development is needed to determine if the Veteran requires constant or near-constant oral medication for his cellulitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to her service-connected hypertension, and instead more likely due to obesity. The other conditions listed are remanded for further review.,The Veteran’s claims for left shoulder disability, low back disability, bilateral foot disabilities, gastrointestinal disability (GERD), right hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability are all being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to incomplete examinations. The left ankle disability is rated at the maximum schedular rating, while the low back disability requires further examination to determine appropriate ratings.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims will be reconsidered based on new evidence and analysis.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his right ankle disability, neurological impairment of the right lower extremity, and painful right ankle scar were denied. The highest schedular rating available for each condition was granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology and secondary service connection of the Veteran's left ankle strain. The claim is being returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's right ankle arthritis and chronic conjunctivitis were granted increased ratings of 20 percent each, effective from March 12, 2018, for the right ankle condition, and October 5, 2018, for the conjunctivitis. The decision is based on marked limitation of motion in the right ankle and documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 3 treatment visits per year for the conjunctivitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to procedural errors in the decision-making process. The issues of hypertension, left ankle disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and gastrointestinal disorders need further examination and opinion.

The Veteran was unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left ankle disability, and thus remands the matter.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hip disability, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and thus granting the benefit of the doubt to the Veteran. The decision also acknowledges the Veteran's current service-connected disabilities which are believed to be contributing factors to his current right hip condition.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several service-connected conditions have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal regarding these issues.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left and right ankle disabilities, as secondary to service-connected multiple myeloma with lytic bone lesions. The case is being returned for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to November 6, 2008 due to the evidence not showing unemployability based on one service-connected disability. The Veteran was found to be substantially employed at that time.

The Veteran's hypertension is not rated higher than 10 percent, and his migraine headaches and right ankle disorder are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of right hand injury is granted.,Service connection for residuals of right ring distal interphalangeal fracture and nail reconstruction is denied.,Service connection for a right ankle disorder is denied.,Service connection for a left ankle disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate opinions regarding his claimed conditions. The Veteran is to be provided with additional examinations by clinicians who have not previously examined him.