Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has identified new evidence that was submitted after the May 2018 Statement of the Case. The Veteran has not waived AOJ review of this additional evidence, so a Supplemental Statement of the Case must be issued to consider all evidence received.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a liver condition was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The appeals to reopen service connection claims for gout, lumbar strain, and hypertension were all denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a sinus disability, shingles, sleep apnea, and left and right ankle disabilities. Service connection was granted for hypertension.,Service connection was denied for a heart murmur due to the lack of evidence showing aggravation beyond its natural progression during service.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right ankle disorders, but the rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine remains under appeal. The case is remanded to obtain a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine condition.

The Board has denied service connection for left ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities as the evidence does not show a current disability that had its onset during or is otherwise related to military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for scar formation on the breasts, buttocks and lower back, psoriasis, and bilateral ankle strain with calcaneal spur are all remanded. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for her psoriasis as of December 20, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The initial rating for PTSD remains denied.

The Board dismissed the appeals for all listed conditions as the Veteran withdrew her appeal through her attorney prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various ankle, back, hip, and knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran must be scheduled for a VA examination of his left ankle disability, and additional opinions are needed regarding secondary service connection for other disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right ankle tendonitis, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, and degenerative arthritis of the right knee are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has denied service connection for a right ankle condition and remanded the issue of service connection for low back sprain. The Veteran's current right ankle symptomatology is not attributable to her in-service injury, while her low back symptoms may be related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a right ankle disability, neck and right arm numbness disability, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are granted. The appeal is denied on the issue of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board is remanding them to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his low back pain, OSA, and right ankle disability.

The Veteran's initial disability evaluations for his right knee, left knee, and left ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations.

The appeals for service connection for bilateral cataracts, prostate cancer, and tinnitus have been dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity and right upper extremity.

The Veteran's surgical scar, right foot is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board has granted a higher rating.,The Veteran’s residuals of a right ankle fracture are currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has remanded this issue for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, neck disability, bilateral shoulder disability, right index finger disability, right great toe disability, and bilateral elbow and ankle disabilities due to inadequate opinions in the VA examinations.

The Veteran's scar on the left side of his nose is granted service connection, but he does not have a right ankle disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as secondary to the service-connected left ankle strain. The right knee and right ankle disabilities are denied, and a remand is ordered for further examination regarding insomnia.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disorders, esophageal cancer, and residuals of a gallbladder removal due to his exposure to Agent Orange during service. The Veteran must be afforded VA examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions.