Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right ankle, lower back, right hip, and right knee disabilities are related to his service-connected left ankle disability. However, due to incomplete opinions from previous VA examinations, a new examination is required to determine if these conditions were caused or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that VA examinations and VA addendum opinions are warranted prior to appellate review for the Veteran's skin disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, left knee disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, and left ankle disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD with alcohol use disorder is denied. Service connection for residuals of TBI, right knee condition, bilateral eye condition, and right ankle condition are all remanded due to incomplete records or lack of medical nexus.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for asthma and remanded the claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities. The Veteran's asthma is being examined again to determine if it was caused by or aggravated during service, while her ankle disabilities are being evaluated to determine their onset in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions. The issues include left leg shortening, sinusitis, rhinitis, sarcoidosis, PTSD with depression, IHD status post angioplasty, left ankle talofibular ligament rupture, hyperparathyroidism, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the highest schedular rating, and his symptoms are considered in the current rating criteria. The Board finds no need for extraschedular consideration.,Service connection has been granted for a low back disability due to service.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's left ankle injury, based on painful marked limitation of motion that results in functional loss.

The Veteran's right and left foot disabilities, as well as his left ankle disability, are being granted initial ratings of at least 10 percent.,The Veteran's residuals of a left scapula fracture is being remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for initial ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, treatment records review, and development of his case. The specific issues include pes planus (left foot), cervical spine disability, bilateral wrist, lumbar spine, bilateral ankle, bilateral hip, right ear hearing loss, sinus/rhinitis/nose bleeds, and dysentery and residuals of food poisoning.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a musculoskeletal condition, as well as his requests for higher ratings for bilateral pes planus, right ankle disability, left knee disability, and residual surgical scars of the left foot. The Veteran is already in receipt of the maximum schedular rating for bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left foot disorder, right foot disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and right ankle disorder have been dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for heart disorder, low back disorder, right ankle/foot disorder, and right knee disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle condition and tinnitus have been reopened, but the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) remain unresolved.,A new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's right knee condition has worsened since his last evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a facial injury damaging his teeth and an increased rating for his right ankle condition, finding that there was no evidence of in-service trauma to these conditions. The claim for increased rating for the right ankle condition is granted with a 10 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's initial ratings for vasomotor rhinitis, left wrist condition, and right ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.,The Veteran's initial rating for a right knee disability is being remanded as his representative submitted an independent medical opinion suggesting that it may be secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. Updated VA examination is needed.,The Veteran's claims of varicose veins, back condition, gastrointestinal disability (manifesting in blood in stool), prostate condition, and hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and medical opinions regarding their etiology.,The Veteran's recurrent sinus condition and right eye condition are being remanded as his representative submitted an independent medical opinion suggesting that they may be secondary to his service-connected vasomotor rhinitis. Updated VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the claims for neck, bilateral wrist, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, bilateral ankle, bilateral foot, bilateral shoulder, and bilateral elbow disabilities due to insufficient evidence.,No new or material evidence was provided to reopen any of these service connection claims.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right ankle condition, finding that it is related to his military service and resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus and left ankle degenerative arthritis due to insufficient examination opinions and potential outstanding private treatment records. The Veteran will need new examinations and possibly additional VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are necessary for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, periostitis of each tibia, osteoarthritis of each ankle, and right foot disability (other than pes planus and arthritis). The claims are being remanded to allow for these examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee pain and instability, low back disability, and left ankle disability have been granted. However, the claim for a left ankle disability remains denied.