Ankle decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and review, including service connection claims for various conditions. The initial compensable rating claim for GERD was denied as the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle disorder, status post-operative and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for the Veteran's knee and ankle disabilities are inadequate, as they did not include range of motion test results using all required methods. The claims are being remanded to obtain further examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder, finding that there is no evidence of an injury or disease during service and no showing of continuity of symptoms after service. The Board also found that the current right ankle disorder is not related to any incident in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including knee, hip, lumbar spine, ankle, and foot disabilities. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions provided by the VA examiner. The claims will be reconsidered with new medical nexus opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected lateral instability of the right ankle is granted a rating of 20 percent, but no higher.

The claims for service connection of left knee, right knee, left ankle, bilateral foot callouses and scars, and right global hand pain have not been reopened.,However, the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities due to outstanding VA or private medical records being needed. The examiner is asked to provide opinions on whether these disabilities are related to active service.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's erectile dysfunction, as well as the current severity of his service-connected TBI, left pubis and sacroiliac disability, left ankle disability, bladder rupture residuals, and headaches. The Veteran will be scheduled for these examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, and he is awarded a rating of 40 percent for his degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine. The appeal concerning entitlement to an effective date prior to April 10, 2003 for the grant of service connection for the lumbar spine disability is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and ankle disorders due to inadequate August 2016 examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for updated VA examinations and a review of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hip disabilities, lower extremity radiculopathy, low back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, ankle disability, and bilateral hearing loss/tinnitus. The Veteran is not entitled to TDIU at this time as more current evidence is needed.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle, right ankle, and bilateral hip disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing the conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.,Service connection was also denied for right ankle disability as secondary to left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disorder, increased rating for bilateral knee patellofemoral syndrome, and TDIU prior to July 6, 2017 due to incomplete examination reports and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's asthma/pulmonary condition was denied on the merits in March 2009. The RO did not consider new and material evidence, which is now required due to additional service treatment records indicating no pre-existing asthma. The Board has remanded for a de novo review of the claim involving asthma. Left knee and right ankle disabilities are also being remanded as VA examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted, and the Board found no nexus between her current conditions and active service.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of all issues on appeal, including those related to service connection for various conditions and an increased rating for hearing loss.

The Veteran's right foot disability, including degenerative arthritis of the talonavicular and subtalar joints, is rated at 30 percent. A separate rating of 10 percent for limitation of motion in the right ankle is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for medial malleolus ossific densities of the left ankle. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.