Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, left shoulder, left hip, and left ankle, as well as PTSD. The claims for a respiratory disorder are also remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed stressor.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain, post-surgical repair of ruptured talofibular ligament, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left knee disability, left ankle disability, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for a right ankle disability due to inadequate examinations and failure to consider functional impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected mood disorder, headaches due to concussion, herniated disc of L4-L5, right ankle condition, and right ankle scar are all rated lower than the Veteran believes they should be. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to ensure that the record contains evidence of the current severity of his disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right leg, ankle, groin, hip, shoulder, cervical spine, and scar conditions. The effective date for a TDIU is dismissed as no effective date has been assigned yet. The issues of service connection and increased evaluations are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for a left knee disorder was granted. The appeal is granted solely on this issue, and the other issues are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is not service-connected due to his willful misconduct during active duty. The other disabilities listed are also denied as they were either caused by or aggravated by the veteran's own actions.

The Veteran's appeals for compensation benefits and an increased disability rating have been dismissed due to their death.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and vertigo.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, right ankle disorder, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, back disability, and PTSD. The decision was based on the lack of new and material evidence for BHL and the absence of diagnosed disabilities in other areas.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the bilateral knees, ankles, shoulders, and wrists due to inadequate examination in a prior decision. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s diagnosed conditions are related to his active duty military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings in excess of 20 percent for right ankle injury and degenerative changes of left ankle with achilles tendonitis have been denied.

The Veteran's claims for left hip, heart, bilateral ankle, stomach, and osteoarthritis disorders are denied as there is no current disability found in the record.,Service connection was not established for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's atherosclerosis of abdominal aorta is not rated as compensable due to lack of symptoms warranting such rating.,Service connection for left and right ankle tendonitis was denied as there is no evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's pancreatitis, rash on the bilateral hands and above the ankles, and rheumatoid arthritis of the shoulders and legs were not found to be related to his military service or any other service-connected disability.,Service connection was denied for all three conditions.

The Veteran's left knee tendonitis is granted as service-connected. The Board also found that the Veteran likely incurred multiple joint disabilities during his active duty, including shoulder, back, neck, and ankle issues, but did not find a direct link to service.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the Veteran's active duty records being unavailable. The Veteran is asked to provide any additional medical or non-medical evidence, including witness statements and medical records, to support his account of events during his U.S. Army Reserve assignment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and consideration, including scheduling VA examinations to address his hip and ankle pain, as well as sleep and fatigue symptoms. The claims are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for readjudication.