Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's right ankle posterior tibialis tendon dysfunction was granted a 20 percent rating from May 30, 2017 to April 24, 2018. The appeal is remanded for further examination and determination of the need for extended convalescence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not presented to reopen the previously denied claims. The Board found no in-service injury or disease related to the claimed conditions.

Service connection is granted for bilateral ankle, foot, and knee conditions as manifestations of an undiagnosed illness or chronic multi-symptom illness due to service in the Persian Gulf.,The Veteran's disabilities are related to his service in the Southwest Asia Theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral knee disability, and right ankle disability as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder condition, low back pain, bilateral knee pain, bilateral ankle condition, and right bicep condition. The Veteran's rhinitis was granted service connection.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran’s hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Veteran's scar residuals associated with his service-connected left ankle disability are rated at 10 percent. The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the scars, finding that they meet the criteria based on their painful nature.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability but remanded the issue of service connection for a left ankle disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle disabilities, finding that these conditions are not related to his active service or service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and ankle disorders, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and Depression) due to inadequate examination opinions and failure to account for the Veteran's statements regarding symptom onset.

The Board has decided the case is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the left and right ankles is related to his service-connected cold injuries in both feet, specifically addressing the aggravation element.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further medical evaluation and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle injury, including whether it is related to service or caused by his service-connected right lower leg shrapnel injury.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle condition, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service injury.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for residual post-surgical scars of the right ankle. The Veteran's increased ratings and new rating for nerve entrapment are remanded due to need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination reports and a need for clarification regarding fibrous ankylosis of the ankles.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right ankle disability. The case will be returned for further development and readjudication.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of in-service kidney stones, right elbow disability, and left ankle disability are all denied as there is no current disability found by the VA examiners.

The Veteran's left ankle pain and left foot degenerative joint disease have been granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected residuals of fractured right tibia.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's residuals of fractured right tibia remains pending.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination, including obtaining missing service treatment records and private medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle condition, claimed as right ankle sprain is reopened. The issue of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain is also remanded.