Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran withdrew her appeals regarding the initial compensable rating for ance and whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, right ankle disorder, eye condition, and stomach and esophageal condition due to the need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right ankle disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, and left knee disability due to new evidence received since the last final decision. The psychiatric disorder claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his PTSD, traumatic amputation of the right middle finger, chronic fatigue syndrome, and various musculoskeletal conditions. The Board has determined that further examination is needed for all these claims due to the lack of recent examinations addressing current severity.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, bilateral ankle disabilities, pes planus, hypertension, and chronic fatigue syndrome as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's knee and ankle disabilities have worsened since the last VA examinations, and new evidence is needed to determine appropriate disability ratings.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, traumatic brain injury (TBI), migraine headaches, broken jaw, and right ankle disabilities due to lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease.,Service records do not indicate any incidents related to these conditions during the Veteran's active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, but denied service connection for major depressive disorder (already service-connected), right ankle disability, and right knee disability. The right shoulder disability remains under review.,The Veteran's right knee and right shoulder disabilities are remanded for additional examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his other conditions.

The issues of service connection for neck, right shoulder, left shoulder, hypertension, and sleep apnea disorders have been dismissed.,The issues of initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, left ankle strain, and right ankle tenosynovitis have been dismissed.,The issue of a rating in excess of 60 percent for urinary incontinence associated with neurogenic bladder and fistula of the bladder or urethra has also been dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shin splint disorder and increased ratings for her left ankle disability and tarsal tunnel syndrome. The evidence did not support the existence of current right shin splint or chronic tibial stress fractures, and the Board found no causal relationship between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new medical evidence received after the last Supplemental Statement of the Case (SOC). The Veteran is asked to provide information about any VA and non-VA healthcare providers who have treated him for his disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for bilateral knee conditions, a low back condition, and a left ankle condition have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, sleep apnea, headaches, ankle disorders, hip disorders, shoulder disorders, neck disorder, grand mal seizure, and right knee disorder have been granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's right ankle disability claims, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected condition.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for hemorrhoidectomy, diabetes mellitus, and right ankle disability. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, dizziness, vertigo, loss of balance and falling, groin pain secondary to pes cavus, fracture to the left foot, ankle, and fibula, and residuals of a head injury have all been denied as there is no evidence that these conditions began during service or are related to any service-connected disability.,Service connection was not granted because the Veteran did not present sufficient medical evidence to establish a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he was not unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment during the appellate period.

The Veteran's service connection claims for psoriatic arthritis and kidney disorder are remanded due to the AOJ failing to notify him of their findings regarding his treatment records from 'Arthritis Associates' in Hixson, Tennessee. The Veteran also has secondary theories of entitlement for these conditions.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a kidney disorder is remanded as he used Naproxen extensively to treat his service-connected orthopedic disorders and over time, the Naproxen damaged his kidneys.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of chronic sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and migraines have been granted. The Veteran is also awarded an initial rating of 30 percent for his migraines.