Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following gainful employment, warranting a TDIU. The claims for increased evaluations of his shoulder and ankle disabilities are remanded due to the lack of recent medical examinations. Service connection for tinnitus, arthritis of the right ankle, left knee, and lower back is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral ankle tendonitis and retrocalcaneal bursitis, as well as bilateral knee strains, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus. The claim for left quadricep repair and bilateral calf pain is remanded.

The Veteran's right ankle disorder is found to be as likely as not attributable to an in-service occurrence, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was aggravated during service, and his right ankle strain is etiologically related to service. Service connection for both conditions has been granted.

An evaluation greater than 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is denied.,An evaluation greater than 20 percent for a left ankle injury, status post-surgical reconstruction, is denied.,TDIU prior to October 30, 2014, is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's left ankle disability, including if he has any resulting residuals such as loss of use of his left foot.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development and examination to address the issues of service connection for various conditions, including sleep disorder, damaged teeth/TMJ disorder, acid reflux disorder, right ear condition/right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, low back disorder, and left wrist disorder.

The Veteran's claimed disabilities have not been linked to his military service and are attributed to known clinical diagnoses. The Board denied the claim for service connection as there is no evidence of a qualifying chronic disability that became manifest during active duty or within a prescribed presumptive period.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of proper examination and consideration of certain symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including a lumbar spine disability, bilateral ankle disability, allergies, exophthalmos, an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and hypothyroidism.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right ankle disability was incurred during active service.

Your service connection claims for left and right ankle disabilities have been dismissed as there is no case or controversy within the jurisdiction of the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hip, knee, and right ankle conditions have not been established. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of current disability for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee, right heel, and right ankle disabilities, as well as headaches, GERD, and IBS. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ankle disability, finding that his current left ankle arthritis was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not presumed service-connected. The Board also found no evidence of secondary service connection due to a service-connected low back disability causing or aggravating the left ankle disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a bilateral hearing loss disability, residuals of left ring finger injury, and bilateral knee and ankle disabilities are denied. The Veteran's claim for bilateral shin splints is granted.

The Veteran's right and left ankle sprains have been granted initial ratings of 20 percent each, effective December 28, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including bilateral ankle, foot, back, respiratory (COPD), cardiovascular disorders, and PTSD as there was no evidence of a nexus to active duty service.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for his painful left wrist scar, residual scars of the right knee, and other disabilities are denied. The Board finds that new examinations are needed to determine the current severity of these conditions.,The Veteran’s claims for increased ratings are REMANDED as there is insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of his right wrist, left wrist, back, right knee, left ankle, allergic rhinitis, and pseudofolliculitis barbae disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, left foot, and bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran's symptoms have been present since service.