Ankle decisions — 2020

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, and he has been granted service connection for his acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and MDD). The claim for a substance abuse disorder was remanded.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal regarding the rating for gout in the right knee and related conditions prior to April 15, 2019, and any request for a higher rating thereafter.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 20 percent disability for service-connected limitation of motion of the right ankle post tendon reconstruction is granted, and his effective date for this condition is set at March 9, 2010.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cysts on the back, right shoulder condition, right knee condition, and right ankle condition are granted with initial 10% evaluations. The low back condition, GERD, and conditions of the right shoulder and right knee require further evaluation.

The Board has decided that an additional VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right ankle disability, as his statements suggest a worsening since the last VA examination. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea was not pursued due to lack of appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral hip disabilities. The AOJ will also obtain all outstanding records from SSA.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for above right knee amputation and a rating in excess of 10 percent for internal right knee derangement, finding that his conditions were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left ankle condition has been reopened and granted. An effective date of February 23, 2009 is assigned.,Service connection for PTSD was established with an effective date of February 23, 2009. A rating of 70 percent for PTSD is also granted.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new evidence received after the April 2016 Statement of the Case, and for additional development including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and TDIU are being remanded.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are granted as service-connected, while his left ankle disorder is denied. Tinnitus was also granted.

The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is found to be causally related to in-service noise exposure, and the gastrointestinal disability is determined to be secondary to service-connected left shoulder and left ankle disabilities.,PTSD symptoms are currently rated at 70 percent, but not higher.

The Board has remanded several claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to the need for additional evidence, including private treatment records and VA examination reports.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disorder secondary to PTSD and major depressive disorder. The issues of increased ratings for left knee instability, right knee instability, left knee limitation of motion, and right knee limitation of motion are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's degenerative arthritis contributed substantially and/or materially to his death. The VA examiner needs to provide an addendum opinion considering all relevant evidence, including articles submitted by the Veteran and a private physician’s opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a left shoulder condition, including residuals of a shoulder dislocation, is granted.,The claims for left ankle and right ankle conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle disorder, including osteoarthritis of the right ankle, was incurred in or related to service. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether this condition began during his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for joint hypermobility, left ankle disability, and left shoulder disability due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions on a direct basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his right ankle disability and service connection for a right hip disability, as the VA examiner’s opinion regarding functional impairment was inadequate.