Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.,The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD are denied due to lack of diagnosed conditions during the appeal period.,The Veteran's claim for a cervical spine disability is denied because there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service injury related to this condition.,The Veteran's claims for right ankle and left ankle disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service injury related to these conditions.,The Veteran's claims for right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities are denied because there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service injury related to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for chronic lumbar spine disorder, chronic left foot disorder, and chronic right ankle disorder as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including dental cavities, neck disorder, back disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder. The reasons given were that the evidence did not show a relationship to service or an in-service injury.

The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's left ankle sprain, finding that it meets the criteria for marked limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and right ankle disabilities, and therefore remands these matters for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and for further development, including obtaining National Guard service records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist, left knee, right knee, and left ankle degenerative joint disease. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to active service.,There was no in-service diagnosis or treatment of any knee or wrist condition, and the VA examinations found current diagnoses of degenerative joint disease (arthritis) which were attributed to normal aging rather than service.

The Board has granted service connection for spinal stenosis, disc protrusions, spondylosis, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hand disability (CTS and arthritis of the hands), and bilateral ankle and foot disorders. The conditions are found to have their onset during service.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right and left ankle disorders prior to July 2, 2018, are denied. Ratings in excess of 10 percent thereafter are also denied.,Service connection for a back disorder is remanded due to the Veteran's testimony regarding his current symptoms and history.

The Board has identified multiple issues on appeal related to service connection for various disabilities. The AOJ must review the claims in light of all received evidence and provide a Supplemental Statement of the Case if necessary.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded as there are outstanding treatment records that have not yet been associated with the claims file.,Further examination and opinion may be needed to determine if any of the claimed disabilities are related to military service.

The claim for service connection for high cholesterol has been dismissed.,The previously denied claim for service connection for a left ankle condition is reopened, but the new evidence does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee disability, right shoulder disability, bilateral wrist arthralgia, bilateral elbow disability, cervical spine disability, and gastrointestinal disability (IBS), due to undiagnosed illness.,These matters are being returned to the Board for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle ostearthritis, chest angina, and an initial compensable disability rating for cluster headaches.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, thoracolumbar spine condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, left leg radiculopathy, and right leg radiculopathy have all been denied.,There is no evidence of a chronic disease in service or within the applicable presumptive period, nor was there continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.,The issue of an effective date earlier than May 27, 2015 for the grant of a 30 percent rating for depression has been withdrawn by her representative.,The Veteran’s increased ratings for depression and bilateral ankle disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's increased ratings for arthropathy right ankle due to osteochondritis dissecans of the talar dome status post ankle surgeries and arthropathy left ankle due to osteochondritis dissecans of the talar dome status post ankle surgeries are also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability, but the claims for seizure disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

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

Service connection for broken feet, left ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and hypertension has been denied.,The Veteran's TBI claim is remanded as additional records are needed to substantiate the claim.

Your appeal for service connection has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.