Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete development of the Veteran's National Guard service records.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left leg disorders, as well as right and left knee and ankle disorders. The issues of service connection for these conditions are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete service records and the need for further verification of his National Guard and Army Reserve service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various disabilities, including ankle pain, knee disabilities, hand scars, back disability, chest pain, elbow disability, finger fracture, cervico brachial syndrome, and headache.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date for radiculopathy sciatic nerve, right lower extremity. The claims of service connection for ankle and knee disabilities were reopened due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. However, the appeals for TDIU prior to February 28, 2018, and as of that date, remain pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further review due to the need to consider a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, and possibly an extra-schedular TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle post-traumatic arthritis is the result of a June 1969 in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board has determined that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of marked limitation of motion.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings and service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded several issues related to lumbar spine disorders, including radiculopathy of the lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's right ankle disability is related to his military service. The claim for tinnitus remains denied as there is no nexus between the condition and service. The claim for reopening of the right ankle disability was granted due to new evidence received since the last denial.

The Board has determined that an additional medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's right ankle and foot disorders are related to his service, including any ACDUTRA period. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis is granted as secondary to his service-connected left ankle degenerative joint disease. The issue of an increased rating for left ankle degenerative joint disease prior to June 28, 2016 and after September 1, 2016 is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle condition has been reopened and remanded due to the need for additional development of records, including inpatient hospital records from McDonald Army Hospital at Fort Eustis, Virginia.

The Board has remanded the issue of a separate, compensable rating for headaches associated with service-connected hypertension due to insufficient examination reports addressing the frequency and severity of the Veteran's headaches.

The Board has decided the increased rating claim for left ankle sprain status-post Watson-Jones reconstruction, but has remanded the service connection claim for right knee status post meniscus tear with degenerative arthritis as secondary to the service-connected left ankle.

The Board has remanded the case due to a typographical error in the Order section of the February 2018 decision, where it denied TDIU effective August 15, 2017. The Veteran's combined disability evaluation did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU at any time during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability, which preexisted service, was aggravated by service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for right hip disorder, sleep apnea, prostate cancer (residuals), migraine headaches, and various foot and knee disabilities. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection of hypertension, left ankle disability, and right thumb disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses are found to be at least in equipoise with respect to their onset during active service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further adjudication of his TDIU claim, as it is inextricably intertwined with the issues of service connection for diabetes, right knee problems, and PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for left ankle instability, right ankle instability, and left foot plantar fasciitis before the Board could make a decision.