Ankle decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, a right knee condition, a back condition, and a right ankle condition has been granted. The appeal to reopen the PTSD claim is also granted. Service connection is established for PTSD based on personal assault allegations. The appeals for the right knee, back, and right ankle conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for SMC based on the loss of use of his right foot is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding whether he would be equally well served by amputation and a prosthesis.

Service connection is granted for lumbosacral strain. The Veteran's current low back disorder is etiologically related to a back injury in service.,Service connection is denied for right ankle pain and left ankle pain, as well as obstructive sleep apnea. There is no evidence of chronic disability in service or post-service continuity of symptomatology.,Service connection is remanded for right wrist pain, cold and upper respiratory infections (claimed as sinus disorder), and bilateral partially compensated flatfoot and plantar fasciitis.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and left ankle conditions due to insufficient examination findings. The issues are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Van Zandt VAMC and possibly a medical addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right lung and right ankle disabilities are related to his service-connected venous insufficiency and/or hypertension.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a vestibular disability, entitlement to TDIU, and increased rating for right ankle disability due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, bilateral elbow disability, hip disability, knee disability, shoulder disability, ankle disability, erythema nodosum, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and a bilateral arm disability has been denied.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence does not establish that any of these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's initial ratings for residual scar, right knee status-post arthroscopy and meniscectomy and right ankle strain have been granted. The rating for the right leg length discrepancy associated with right femur fracture remains at a non-compensable level.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for right and left ankle disorders as secondary to service-connected hip, thigh, or knee disorders due to procedural issues and need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for a left knee disability is granted. Service connection for arthritis of the left knee and right ankle are also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle degenerative arthritis. However, the right ankle disability issue is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of the Veteran's right ankle disability, specifically his range of motion and functional impairment. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to address these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that there is no current evidence of a diagnosed condition and questioning the accuracy of the Veteran's statements regarding his symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected residuals of a left tibia and fibula fracture with left ankle DJD was denied. The claim for TDIU due to the service-connected disability was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on his right ankle condition has been denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA audiological examination and an opportunity for his representative, the Texas Veterans Commission, to file arguments in support of the claim. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and initial rating for right ankle disability are also being remanded.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30% from May 21, 2010 onwards. The claim for a higher rating is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability has not been shown to have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore the claim for TDIU is denied.