Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's nonlinear scars of the anterior trunk are not painful, unstable, or associated with underlying tissue damage and do not affect a total area greater than 929 square centimeters.,The Veteran does not have a current left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, or right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for a left ankle disability and service connection for a right hip disorder was denied. The decision found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or service connection due to lack of evidence supporting his claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right ankle strain residuals, as well as initial ratings for left and right foot disabilities, have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease, right ankle tendonitis, and left lower extremity polyneuropathy have been granted. The appeals are allowed to the extent of these specific conditions.

The Board has decided that additional medical records are needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's claims for service connection for fractures of the left femur and left ankle.

The Veteran's request for a higher rating for his right ankle disability prior to June 11, 2012 was denied. From June 11, 2012 onwards, he is rated at 20 percent for the disability. A separate 10 percent rating for a painful scar from the April 2018 surgery was granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records, particularly regarding her service-connected foot disabilities. The appeals will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for the Veteran's left shoulder and left ankle disorders, as these are intertwined with the issue of TDIU. The case is now being remanded to readjudicate all these matters.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his right ankle condition claim was granted, and he is now service-connected for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD and anxiety. The issues of entitlement to initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction, service connection for migraines secondary to his psychiatric disorder, and service connection for sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his bilateral dry eye syndrome, left ankle tendinitis and peroneal brevis tendon tear with avulsion fracture and arthritis, and left ankle ganglion cyst removal scar and open reduction and fixation residual scar should be remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of newly submitted VA outpatient treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional VA examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected upper and lower back strain, left knee strain, right ankle strain, and bilateral flatfeet and plantar fasciitis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to additional information and evidence that needs to be obtained, including verification of any Reserve duty after discharge in 1976, Social Security Administration records, and medical examinations.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a finding that the veteran's current right ankle condition began during her active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the appeals are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and the impact of service-connected disabilities on his health.

The Board has granted initial 20 percent ratings for the right and left ankle sprains, effective May 28, 2009.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of a right ankle disability as it was granted in a previous rating decision. The Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing assistance and special monthly compensation were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not determined whether there is a valid claim for each condition. The evidence received since the final denial does relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate some of the claims (current disability), but does not establish a link between service and any current disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have not met the criteria for a higher rating, and the case is remanded for further evaluation.