Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's right knee disability, including degenerative joint disease of the right knee, is granted as service-connected. Other conditions are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's right leg amputation is being examined, as well as his left leg condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for ankle and knee disabilities, as secondary to his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The VA examiner is needed to provide an opinion on the etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle sprain and osteoarthritis are related to an in-service injury, and service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for right knee injury, and the claim for a compensable rating for scars related to right knee injury was granted.,The Veteran’s right ankle condition may be caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities (right knee and right foot fracture), but this needs further examination and opinion.

The Veteran was granted initial disability ratings of 30 percent for GERD, Migraine Headaches, Right Ankle Lateral Collateral Ligament Sprain, and Right Leg Shin Splints.,These ratings are effective from the dates specified in the decision.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, generalized anxiety disorder with major depression prior to April 11, 2016, sleep apnea, GERD, right wrist sprain with avascular necrosis, status post removal of necrotic bone, psoriasis, diabetes, right ankle sprain, right knee disorder, right foot disorder, bilateral leg disorder, chest disorder, residuals of head injury including scar, and vocal chords disorder are all remanded for further development.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for right ankle tendinitis since June 28, 2010. The claim of entitlement to a higher initial rating for right ankle instability prior to March 20, 2013 was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to an in-service injury. The preponderance of the evidence does not support the claim.

The Board has determined that additional evidence must be considered by the AOJ before a final decision can be made on your claims. You will need to provide any new information or documents you have.

The Veteran's cause of death was not related to his service-connected conditions, including the presumptively service-connected coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure. The Board determined that none of his service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left and right ankle disorders, foot disorders, asthma (respiratory disorder), right shoulder disorder, right wrist disorder, left-hand disorder, right-hand disorder, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen her previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for right ankle disability, allergies, and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for chronic sinus infections was denied as there is no current evidence of a disability. Service connection for asthma and sleep apnea were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left ankle disability was denied. The claims for service connection for petit gran mal seizures, PTSD, anxiety, and depression were remanded due to insufficient evidence. A new and material evidence claim for lung disorder was granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination reports and unclear opinions regarding his ankle and cervical spine disorders. The claims will be reviewed again with additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an initial 70 percent rating for Major Depressive Disorder, effective from May 18, 2006 to October 29, 2018, and after March 1, 2019, is granted. The decision also grants a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability, right ankle disability, and herpes. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed low back disability and related conditions. The Veteran must provide additional medical evidence or obtain releases, and a new opinion is needed on the etiology of his low back disability and its relationship to other disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions and need for further examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle, right ankle, and right hip disabilities are being reviewed.

The Veteran's case is remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records, including those related to an ankle brace and a scheduled x-ray examination. Additional records are needed.