Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to right knee and ankle disabilities because of conflicting findings regarding their pre-service status. The Veteran's current right knee and ankle disabilities are presumed sound at the time of entry into active service, and the only issue left is whether they are directly related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right ankle strain, left ankle strain, right foot strain, and left foot strain due to a lack of evidence establishing these conditions during service or otherwise related to service-connected disability.,There is no credible evidence of record indicating any current disabilities in the Veteran's feet or ankles.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right hip disability, and right ankle disability as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease that caused the current disabilities.,There is no medical evidence showing a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during service and is granted. The Board also found that the Veteran has right knee, ankle, and foot disorders, a right wrist condition (including ganglion cyst and carpal tunnel syndrome), hemorrhoids, a scar on his thigh, and residuals of skin cancer of the left cheek/nose, all related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle sprain with degenerative changes, finding that it is related to an in-service injury and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities are rated at 20 percent each, effective July 30, 2013. The TDIU claim is granted as of August 18, 2016.

The Veteran's bilateral flat feet, insomnia, right ankle disability, low back disability, bilateral hip disabilities, and bilateral wrist disabilities are not service-connected.,The Veteran’s current insomnia is considered a component of her service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle disabilities have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further development and examination, including testing of left knee range of motion in different modalities as required by VA regulations. Service connection for a left ankle condition is also remanded due to the need for an opinion on whether it was incurred during service or caused/aggravated by other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's left leg disability, including fibular fracture, left knee arthritis, and left tibia, is rated at 10 percent. Service connection for the left ankle disability was granted in a May 2016 rating decision. The right ankle disability is not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring an examination to determine if the right ankle disability is related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left elbow and right ankle disabilities, as well as allergic rhinitis, are not supported by the evidence of record. The Veteran's current conditions have been denied due to a lack of established in-service disability or causal relationship.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide an opinion on the secondary service connection claim for bilateral knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and SMC, as well as his TDIU claim. The issues of severance of service connection for chronic right and left ankle sprains are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including kidney cancer, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and arthritis of multiple joints. The claims are being reviewed to determine if there is evidence of exposure to herbicide agents or other contaminants during service in Vieques, Puerto Rico.

The Board has remanded the issues of fatigue, joint pain, sleep disturbances and respiratory problems due to an undiagnosed illness for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination due to issues with the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left ankle and knee conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for osteoarthritis of multiple joints (including bilateral ankles), spina bifida occulta, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and a cognitive disability claimed as short-term memory loss. Additional evidence is needed from SSA and VA medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his left ankle condition, left knee disorder, and TDIU claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle disability, left ankle disability, bilateral pes planus, and sleep apnea due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.