Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current right hand, right knee, left knee, right ankle, or left ankle disability related to service and therefore denied these claims. The case is being remanded for further examination and development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including cervical disability, low back disability, right knee and left knee disabilities, left ankle and right ankle disabilities, vertigo, and lung/breathing disability. The claims are being remanded due to insufficient competent evidence of record.

The Board has dismissed all appeals as the Veteran withdrew his requests for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for bilateral ankle conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left ankle DJD has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

An initial 50 percent rating, but no higher, for adjustment disorder with anxiety is granted. Other claims are denied or remanded.

The Board has remanded several claims for service connection due to the lack of a separation examination report. The Veteran's active service from May 1989 to May 1993 is noted, and he elected to have a separation medical examination prior to his discharge.

The Veteran's right ankle scar is rated at 0 percent, and a higher rating is denied.,PTSD remains rated at 70 percent, with no higher rating granted.,Prior to October 16, 2018, the lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent; as of that date, it is rated at 40 percent.,The Veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction are not rated higher than 20 percent.,A higher rating for a left eye disability is denied.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right eye disability, chest disability, and headache disability remains remanded.,Service connection for cervical spine disability, right ankle disability, right knee disability from March 1, 2014 to September 15, 2015, left knee disability, and a temporary 100 percent rating based on surgical treatment for the right knee requiring convalescence are all remanded.,Effective dates prior to specific dates for service connection grants or increased ratings are also remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right ankle condition due to new evidence showing gout, which may be related to his military service. The dental condition claim is remanded as well.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his left knee degenerative joint disease was denied. A separate rating of 10 percent for instability was granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to missing VA examinations and lack of adequate medical opinions. The Veteran's ankle and foot conditions, as well as his acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, are being reviewed again.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as a left knee disability. The claim for service connection for a left shoulder condition is remanded.,Service connection cannot be established because there is no evidence linking any of these conditions to service.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disorder is denied as less likely related to service.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted due to presumed exposure during Vietnam era.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted based on in-service noise exposure and current symptoms.,The Veteran's back, knee, and ankle disorders are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's left ankle nerve disability is granted as service-connected because it is linked to his in-service injury, and there is no significant probative weight assigned to the negative opinions provided by medical examiners.

The Veteran's right ankle condition is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee ACL tear.,A separate 20 percent rating for left knee dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of locking, pain, and joint effusion is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various lower extremity disabilities, including right shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle conditions, all secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease. The case will be reviewed with a new examination to address the etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has readjudicated the claims for service connection for various lower extremity conditions, including shin splints, ankle disabilities, hip disability, foot disabilities, wrist disability, shoulder disability, and knee disability. The decision is mixed as some issues have been granted while others are remanded.

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for bilateral pes planus, bilateral shin splints, and right ankle pain was granted. However, the service connection for these conditions is denied as there is no evidence that they were incurred in or due to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current hip or knee disabilities, and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied. For his lumbar spine and left ankle disabilities, additional evidence is needed to determine if they are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ankle fracture, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and bruxism secondary to PTSD due to lack of recent medical examination and insufficient nexus opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral elbow, lumbar spine, bilateral hip, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to lack of current disability or evidence that they were incurred during active duty.