Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection and increased rating claims for various conditions, including left shoulder disability, neck pain, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, and right shoulder strain. The Veteran's current disabilities were not found to be related to his military service.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 20 percent disability evaluation for partial tear, lateral collateral ligament, right ankle, residual sprain due to a reduction in rating without following the applicable regulation.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral foot, hip, and ankle osteoarthritis, as well as lumbar spine myositis and atopic dermatitis, all of which were related to his exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA opinion regarding his hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not impose a need for regular aid and attendance or substantially confine him to his dwelling, thus denying the SMC based on aid and attendance/housebound.

The Veteran's appeals regarding left foot disorders and tinea pedis were dismissed. The Board granted service connection for a low back disorder, but remanded the issues of service connection for left ankle and right wrist disorders.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances for clotrimazole and hydrophilic creams due to lack of connection with a service-connected skin disability. The case is remanded for further consideration regarding the bilateral knee braces.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for fatty liver with elevated liver enzymes, traumatic brain injury (TBI), left ankle disability, right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and fractured right ankle, and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied. The effective date for the 50% rating for PTSD has also been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right ankle disability are not service-connected, but remanded for further examination to determine if these conditions were caused or aggravated by his service-connected right great toe disability.,Regarding tinnitus, the Veteran is seeking service connection based on in-service noise exposure. The VA examiner will need to provide an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his period of service.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his left ankle disability, neck scar, and abdominal and upper left thigh scars. The Veteran will be provided with a new VA examination to assess the current severity of these disabilities.

The Veteran's right ankle scar is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board has determined that a compensable rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of 40 percent is warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot and ankle disorders due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to scheduling issues for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle strain is denied. The issue of service connection for thoracic back pain, claimed as secondary to the left ankle strain, is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle disability, sleep apnea, generalized sensory peripheral neuropathy of upper extremities, and TMJ are not supported by the evidence. The appeals are being remanded to obtain a VA examination to determine if any current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle, right ankle, neck, and back disorders on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances for back, left knee, and right knee braces in 2018 were denied as the braces are not used for service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disorder, right leg disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, short-term memory loss, residuals of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and CFS due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.,The Board found that there was no credible evidence of an in-service injury or disease for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals, right ankle injury, finding that his condition has resulted in no more than moderate limitation of motion.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a bilateral ankle disorder due to withdrawal by the Appellant. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.