Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral joint pain of the knees and ankles, but remanded these issues due to insufficient evidence. The claims are now pending again.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition, left knee condition, and right ankle condition. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The Veteran's PTSD, lumbar spine disability, left hip and right hip disabilities, left ankle and right ankle disabilities, respiratory disability, and fatigue are denied.

The Veteran's right and left knee chondromalacia were granted service connection. The claims for right and left ankle disabilities, neck disability, back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, and acquired psychiatric disability were denied.

The Veteran's left ankle condition is granted service connection. The right ankle condition claim for secondary service connection is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle disability. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a right ankle injury that occurred during her military service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a right leg disorder is granted, and the appeal is remanded for further examination and determination on other issues.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral ankle pain and pes cavus was granted, with both conditions being found related to active service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for various conditions, including right knee disability, ankle disability, degenerative arthritis, and hypertension, was denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claims.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The issues of service connection for right ankle sprain, PTSD, and sleep apnea are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension was denied due to lack of evidence showing a current disability. The right ankle arthritis claim was granted as the injury during service is considered the cause.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right ankle disability due to inadequate examination reports and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for total right shoulder replacement, total right hip replacement, and total left hip replacement. The Board found that there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or continuity of symptomatology after service to support these claims.,Service connection was also denied for residuals of a right ankle injury.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with a 10 percent rating restored for tendonitis of the left Achilles tendon and denied for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for right Achilles tendon condition and left knee ACL condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to failure to schedule VA examinations. The case is returned to the RO for further development and consideration.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle condition and hypertension, finding no evidence of such conditions during or related to active service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for left hip, right hip, left ankle, and right ankle conditions secondary to service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran's bilateral hip and ankle conditions are being remanded for further examination and analysis.,Service connection is being remanded for the Veteran's left hip condition, right hip condition, left ankle condition, and right ankle condition as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to higher disability ratings for partial rupture, right biceps tendon; status-post left ankle Brostrom procedure; and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Specifically, a VA elbow examination is needed for the right biceps tendon issue. The Board also notes that further examinations are necessary to assess the Veteran's left ankle disability and GERD with IBS due to potential functional loss during flares.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for her right ankle sprain is being remanded due to the RO not considering the November 2015 VA examination of her right foot in their previous decision.