Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims are now remanded to determine if these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for seborrheic dermatitis and denied the remaining issues on appeal. Service connection is granted for lumbar spine degenerative disease, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for dental injury.,Service connection is denied for a bilateral knee condition.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examination and medical opinions, requiring a new evaluation for the Veteran's bilateral foot, hip, knee, and ankle disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right ankle conditions did not manifest during active service or within one year of separation, and were not caused by any aspect of service. The VA examinations and medical records do not support a finding that these conditions are proximately caused by, or aggravated by, her service-connected bilateral knee condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee, finger, ankle, and back issues due to a finding of no diagnosis without considering Saunders v. Wilkie.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.,There is no clear and unmistakable evidence showing a pre-existing condition of the Veteran's knees or ears was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for residuals, otitis media and externa of the right ear was denied as there is no evidence of suppuration or aural polyps.,Service connection for sinusitis was denied because there is no evidence that the condition began during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for COPD, multiple joint disabilities, and other service connection issues due to inadequate etiology opinions provided by VA examiners. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral elbow, hip, and ankle disabilities due to incomplete development. The Veteran needs to provide a VA Form 21-4142 to obtain private medical records from Dr. P.R., and additional VA examination or other evidence is needed.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his left ankle disability was denied. However, he received a separate 20 percent rating for left ankle instability.

The Board denied the petitions to reopen claims for service connection for low back disability and right ankle disability, finding no new and material evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is now rated at 20 percent, effective from August 26, 2016. The rating reflects marked limitation of motion.

The Veteran's right and left ankle degenerative joint diseases were granted a higher rating of 20 percent effective January 8, 2015. Prior to this date, the disabilities had been rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's right ankle and left knee disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to the possibility of increased severity since the last evaluations. The TDIU issue is also being remanded as it is intertwined with the issues regarding the right ankle and left knee.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to TDIU and DEA benefits prior to October 16, 2010 due to unresolved questions regarding the Veteran's employment status.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition to include lumbar spondylosis has been granted. The claims for secondary service connection of rheumatoid arthritis of the hands and ankles have been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral ankle, lumbar, hip, and right knee disabilities, as well as a hernia and chronic left scrotum pain. The Board found no direct or secondary service connection due to lack of evidence supporting the claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a current right foot/ankle disability and failure to address the Veteran's contentions about sinus tarsi syndrome. A new VA examination is needed.