Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examinations and requests for additional information.

The Board has determined that new examinations are necessary to evaluate the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including her right elbow condition, left knee condition, bilateral ankle conditions, TBI (head trauma), bilateral wrist ulnar neuritis, and migraines. The Veteran is also asked to provide any relevant private treatment records or other evidence.

The Board has granted initial increased ratings of 10 percent for the Veteran's right fourth hammertoe, right fifth metatarsal fracture, and right ankle strain. These issues are remanded for further examination and rating considerations.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for right ankle disability was denied in an August 1994 rating decision. New and material evidence has not been received to reopen this claim, so the denial remains final. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, knee, and ankle conditions are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The effective date of service connection remains unresolved as the claim was not received within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip disorder, left knee disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disability has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PFB has been reopened but not granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and left ankle disabilities have been denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for a bilateral foot disability, right shoulder strain, degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the neck, low back disability, and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's right ankle and right knee disabilities have worsened, and he should be scheduled for new examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's left ankle condition has worsened since the last VA examination in 2015, and further development is needed to assess its current severity.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability, abnormalities of gait secondary to left ankle sprain, and epigastric tenderness (to include gastric ulcers and GERD) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating available under DC 5271. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions covered by other diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's eligibility for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation is remanded due to additional mobility problems associated with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. The Board finds a need for a new VA examination to evaluate the current severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to ambulate.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability has been reopened and granted. The claims for increased evaluations of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy, and knee disabilities have been denied. The TDIU claim is being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including shoulder, elbow, foot/toes numbness, wrist, knee, ankle, eye, vertigo, breathing difficulties, and hypertension have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis in shoulders, wrists, knees, ankles, and feet as secondary to his service-connected Crohn’s disease with small intestine resection and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now granted. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is found to be related to the service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, OSA, knee and ankle disabilities, lumbar spine disability, and right side numbness. The Veteran's service records do not show a current hearing loss disability or any of these other conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of right ankle, left hip and right hip disabilities due to lack of current disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's claims for left wrist tendonitis and residuals of fractured coccyx are denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of a disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder torn tendon with tendonitis and bursitis is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding in-service diagnoses.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left elbow tendonitis, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, torn meniscus, and osteoarthritis, as well as left knee patellofemoral syndrome are all remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding in-service diagnoses.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ankle torn ligament is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding in-service diagnoses.