Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examinations and requests for additional medical records. The Veteran's right ankle injury will need further examination by a VA orthopedist.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's left ankle sprain disability, finding that the evidence did not show marked limitation of motion and therefore a higher rating was not warranted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee, bilateral ankle, back, and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's contentions of in-service injury are considered.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including IBS, ulcer condition, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, tinnitus, insomnia, left ankle disability (claimed as memory loss, tremors and neurological disease), and bilateral hearing loss. The Board found no current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder, back, left ankle, and hypothyroidism disabilities are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding service connection.,The TDIU claim is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right ankle conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active service.,The Board also denied the claim for TDIU as the Veteran did not have his employment precluded by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD but has remanded the cases of bilateral ankle and foot disorders due to missing records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings in various disabilities, including migraines, left knee disability, and left ankle disability, is remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The TDIU claim remains on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a kidney disorder is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee disability, left hip and ankle disabilities, cervical spine disability, and left upper extremity disability (left arm) due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his bilateral ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a new examination.

The Board has denied service connection for left ankle and shin disabilities, hypertension, and dementia. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions on the hypertension claim.

The Veteran's hearing loss is not service connected as it did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service. The Board finds the preponderance of evidence against finding a nexus between the Veteran’s current bilateral hearing loss and active military service. For the ankle sprains, the VA examiner's opinion regarding their onset in service or relation to service is inadequate.

The Veteran's left ankle disability status post debridement of subtalar joint is related to an in-service injury, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of a higher rating for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with arthritis.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the lack of an adequate substantive appeal for each issue.

The Board denied the severance of service connection for Raynaud's phenomenon, but granted restoration of service connection for left ankle injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA and/or private medical records, including VistA records.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for post scaphoid fracture of the left wrist and residuals of right ankle sprain have been denied.,The Veteran's back condition has been remanded due to conflicting findings regarding neurological manifestations. The hypothyroidism evaluation is also remanded as the Veteran failed to appear for an examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to evaluate the severity of his service-connected right knee and ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient consideration of certain medical records and examination reports in previous decisions.