Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.,The issues on appeal include claims for increased ratings for various disabilities, as well as a claim for service connection and TDIU.

The Veteran withdrew all pending appeals to reopen his service connection claims for neck, right elbow, and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for keratosis was granted. The left ankle disability received a 20% rating effective November 28, 2018. The claims for increased evaluations of the left and right knee disabilities were denied. The lumbar spine stenosis claim was remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action due to unresolved issues regarding service connection and other claims. The VA has not yet determined the appropriate ratings or effective dates for her conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection was granted for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, but denied for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple joint pain and weakness, as claimed to be due to Gulf War Syndrome. The claims are being returned for further clarification of the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including for his right ankle disability, sleep apnea, bilateral wrist disabilities, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals on all issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral shoulder, leg, hip, ankle, left knee, back, and right knee disabilities. The claims were dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawals of these issues prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's left ankle fracture is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle condition, right ankle condition, left hip condition, left foot condition, and right foot condition as the appeal was improperly filed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease (DJD) status post right ankle replacement, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to his in-service injury and treatment.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his in-service injury and arthritis did not manifest within one year of separation from active duty.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on his low back strain and right ankle sprain, as well as the claim of service connection for a left ankle condition, have been dismissed due to the Veteran's request to withdraw from appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected surgical scars of the left and right ankle are rated at 10 percent since October 28, 2015. The Board has remanded for further examination to determine if his bilateral foot and knee disabilities are related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues currently on appeal, including service connection and increased rating claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for a bilateral ankle disability and residuals of a right foot disability due to additional evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left ankle condition. The Veteran's left ankle condition is currently being remanded for further examination. Additionally, the issue of TDIU is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the left ankle issue.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability and an increased rating for his left ankle disability, including on an extraschedular basis. The Board found that there was no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of in-service injury or current disability related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for her left ankle and left flatfoot disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed left ankle, right knee, left knee, left hip, right shoulder, left shoulder, thoracolumbar spine with radiculopathy, and cervical spine disabilities based on a finding of in-service onset and credible reports of chronicity.