Ankle decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU, but his claim is referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's right ankle arthritis is rated at 20 percent, and his anxiety disorder was granted a separate rating of 50 percent prior to December 31, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a right ankle disability is denied as there was no clear and unmistakable error in the October 1970 rating decision, and the result would not have been manifestly different but for the alleged error.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tricuspid regurgitation with pulmonary hypertension is granted. The claims for upper respiratory disability and right ankle disability are remanded.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is now rated at 20 percent, reflecting marked limitation of motion.,The Veteran’s right hand conditions are not service-connected and do not warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left hand little finger disability and bilateral ankle condition have been reopened, but the preponderance of evidence is against finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence concerning his conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for osteoarthritis of the right hip and traumatic arthritis of the left ankle due to new evidence showing an increase in symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist and right ankle pain, but denied service connection for reactive airway disease (bronchitis).

The Board has denied service connection for a right ankle disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for right foot osteoarthritis with calcaneal spur.

The appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. Service connection has been granted for bilateral ankle pain, and the remaining issues (bilateral hip disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and TMJ disorder) are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, anxiety, and migraine headaches have been granted. The claim for insomnia was denied. Service connection has also been established for a left wrist disorder.

The Board has decided to remand several claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations. The claims include compensation for lumbosacral spine disorder, hip disorders, ankle OA, and facial weakness and biting of the tongue.

The Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for left and right foot ingrown toenails have been dismissed. The Board has granted increased ratings for the Veteran's ankle and knee disabilities, but has remanded the Veteran's claim for an increase in rating of his TMJ disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but the issues of service connection for a left shoulder disability, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, right ankle condition, and injury to the right eye are remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for traumatic arthritis of the left ankle prior to July 5, 2018, and an increased rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.

The Board has remanded both the service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 claims for a left ankle disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the condition and whether the Veteran's increased pain after surgery was caused by VA care.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and active service.,No effective dates are granted as all claims predate May 3, 2016.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate examinations and for obtaining updated medical records. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include lumbar spine, left hip, left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, and tinea pedis.