Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination. Specifically, a VA examination is needed to determine if his lower back disability is related to his service-connected left ankle disability or peripheral neuropathy, as well as whether his left ankle disability warrants an increased rating.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is granted a rating of 20 percent, and his painful and unstable scars are denied an increased rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The claims will be reconsidered after additional evidence is obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left wrist disability, right thumb laceration residuals, left index finger disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, Eustachian tube disability, gastrointestinal disability, skin disability, herpes zoster, and disability manifested by chest pains due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board denied all service connection claims, including those for hypertension, pulmonary or respiratory disability, cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities, bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities, bilateral ankle disabilities, and drug dependency. The decision also remanded the claim for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has found that the Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities, as well as his acquired mental health disorder, are not properly adjudicated due to inadequate medical opinions. The case is therefore remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of head trauma and a bilateral ankle condition is granted. The case is remanded for further development regarding the bilateral ankle condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current left ankle disability and denied service connection for it. The right ankle issue is remanded due to an inadequate VA examination.

The application to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection for a back disability and a leg disability, also claimed as a right knee disability is granted. The application to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a left ankle disability is denied. The claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD), a back disability, and a leg disability (also claimed as a right knee disability) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities due to incomplete medical records, lack of nexus opinions addressing all relevant issues, and need for additional examinations. The appeals will be addressed after obtaining necessary records and conducting further evaluations.

The Veteran's hypertension, bilateral foot condition (to include pes planus, plantar fasciitis and arthritis), toe condition, hip condition, knee condition, ankle condition, cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, BUE peripheral neuropathy, BLE peripheral neuropathy, sinus condition, and gout were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Veteran's bilateral foot condition is related to his period of service.

The Veteran's petitions to reopen claims for lumbar spine disorder, right hip disorder, bilateral orchitis with testosterone deficiency, left hip disorder, and IBS have been dismissed.,Claims for neck disorder, left knee disorder, and right ankle disorder were reopened due to new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for TBI residuals was dismissed. The appeals for service connection for headaches, multiple lipomas, IBS, and a skin condition were all granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied, and the effective dates for certain awards have also been denied. The Board found that new evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen the claims for left ear hearing loss, sinusitis, or bronchitis. Effective dates were determined based on when the claims were received.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,The Veteran's right ankle fracture residuals are currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional evaluations of his service-connected left shoulder, right ankle tibiotalar degenerative joint disease, and right ankle scar due to inadequate examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right shoulder disorders, left and right arm disorders, and a right ankle disorder as the evidence does not support finding that these conditions began during or are related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and right ankle tendonitis with post-surgical residuals are granted. The Veteran is also awarded a 20 percent rating for his surgical scar on the right ankle, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance is denied because his service-connected disabilities alone are not of such severity as to render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The issue of total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has also been denied.