Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination reports and lack of private treatment records. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for dyslipidemia as it is a laboratory finding, not a disability. Other issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with the August 2018 remand instructions and thus, the claims are being returned for further development. Specifically, VA is required to obtain treatment records from Fort Bliss and provide an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's low back disorder and left ankle disorder are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left hip and left knee bursitis with measurable atrophy of the thigh, as well as a muscle injury of the calf as residual of left ankle fracture and left knee bursitis. The maximum schedular ratings have been assigned.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle disorders, finding that there is equipoise of evidence regarding their onset during active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to environmental exposure during his Gulf War service. The issues include fibromyalgia, arthralgia of the right hand, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability. A new examination is required to address the etiology and pathophysiology of fibromyalgia as a potential medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness (MUCMI).

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, as well as increased ratings for lumbar spine DDD, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee pain with mild patellofemoral degenerative changes, left ankle sprain, right ankle sprain, residual scar of hernia operation (right inguinal area), and painful residual scar of hernia operation (left inguinal area).

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of her back, left knee, and left ankle disabilities. The current status of her migraine headaches remains unresolved.

The Board has remanded the claims for PTSD, lumbar degenerative disc disease and strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, left thumb ulnar collateral ligament surgery, status post reconstruction/fusion with ankylosis, left thumb sensory neuropathy, and ganglion cyst, left ankle due to outstanding VA medical records from the Little Rock VA Medical Center not being associated with the claims file.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for knee and ankle conditions due to fibromyalgia as secondary to service-connected anxiety disorder. The Veteran's current diagnoses of fibromyalgia are related to her active duty service, but a VA examiner is needed to provide an opinion on whether the fibromyalgia was caused or aggravated by her service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability, characterized by painful motion and limited range of motion, warrants a 20 percent rating from December 30, 2015.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back condition, left wrist condition with residuals, left ankle condition with residuals, right ankle condition with residuals, and stomach condition. The reasons given include lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension, sleep disorder, left shoulder disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right ankle disability have not been found to be related to his active duty service.,Service connection for these conditions has therefore been denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected thoracolumbar spine strain is granted, subject to the rules and regulations governing the payment of VA monetary benefits. The claims for service connection for various conditions are denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle disorders, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including left hip condition, right hip condition, left shoulder condition, left ankle condition, bilateral hip conditions, left knee condition, and right knee condition. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder), duodenal ulcer with esophagitis, and bronchial asthma are also remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the presence of ankylosis of his left ankle and potential involvement of the left knee. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected status post fracture of the left tibia and fibula with degenerative joint disease of the left ankle.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claims for sinus condition, hypertension, bilateral hallux valgus, bilateral eye disorder (including dry eyes), bilateral cataracts, sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, recurrent subluxation of left knee, post-operative left knee with DJD, right knee DJD, and right knee instability are remanded.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for left renal arteriovenous malformation (AVM), burn scars of the bilateral ankles, tender left knee scar, and linear left knee scar is also remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting additional examinations. The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability (PTSD), lumbar spine disability, renal calculi, right foot disability, left forefoot and ankle disability, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are all at issue.

The Veteran's GERD was granted service connection and an effective date of July 15, 2013 is assigned.,Service connection for the right shoulder disability, left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, cervical strain, and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) were all granted with effective dates of July 15, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities. The examiner is asked to provide opinions on whether these conditions are related to in-service events or diseases.