Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus. The remaining issues on appeal have been remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle and right foot toe disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions in his previous VA examination. The Veteran needs to provide additional treatment records, and a new VA examination is required.

The Veteran's claim for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(k) for loss of use of one foot as a result of left ankle injury with degenerative joint disease was denied, and the Board found that he did not meet the criteria for this type of compensation. The claim for TDIU prior to October 5, 2017, is remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip condition as secondary to his service-connected right ankle and/or right foot conditions, and for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The claims are being remanded to obtain an opinion on whether the Veteran's right hip condition is related to his service-connected right ankle and/or right foot conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back injury, left ankle injury, tinnitus, and major depressive disorder. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted an increased rating of 20 percent for left ankle disability from January 2, 2018 and denied all other claims. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of claims by his representative.,The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and secondary service connection have been remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as other conditions such as low back disability, hip, ankle, knee, foot disabilities, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric condition. The remand requires obtaining VA treatment records, conducting examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions, and providing opinions on their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee, shin splints, right ankle, bilateral heel spurs, gastrointestinal disability, erectile dysfunction, carpal tunnel syndrome, and nerve disability of the lower legs and feet due to inadequate VA examination reports. The issues are related to service connection.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for further examination and opinion regarding exposure to environmental contaminants during service. The Veteran's kidney condition is related to his exposure at Atsugi, Japan. Other conditions are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include left ankle disability, right ankle disability, legal blindness (secondary to HIV), HIV, and an acquired psychiatric disability.

Service connection is granted for a right ankle disability, including arthritis.,Service connection is also granted for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically major depressive disorder, as secondary to the service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to increased ratings for left ankle strain due to new evidence added since the April 2018 SOC.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including shoulder, cervical spine/neck, bilateral ankle, cardiovascular, bilateral plantar fasciitis with fallen arches, vertigo, sleep apnea, right inguinal hernia, and skin disability of the feet. The claims are being remanded to determine the etiology of the Veteran's headaches.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including shoulder, cervical spine/neck, bilateral ankle, cardiovascular, bilateral plantar fasciitis with fallen arches, vertigo, sleep apnea, right inguinal hernia, and skin disability of the feet. The claims are being remanded to determine the etiology of the Veteran's headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected achilles tendonitis of the ankles and patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, as well as his claim for TDIU due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's back disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, pes planus, and glaucoma were all denied service connection as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during or were otherwise related to his military service.,While the Veteran had complaints of pain in each of these areas during service, there was no medical evidence linking any current diagnoses to his active duty. The VA examiners found no nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and VA medical opinions regarding his psychiatric disability, headaches, and knee disabilities. The effective dates of service connection awards are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the issues of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities remain pending and need further examination.