Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical examination and need for further review of the Veteran's left ankle disability.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, lumbar radiculopathy, and left ankle arthritis due to in-service parachute jumps as a paratrooper.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left ankle disorder due to lack of current diagnosis and no evidence showing functional impairment in earning capacity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied as the evidence did not show a nexus to his active duty.,Claims for increased ratings were also denied, with the Board finding that the Veteran failed to cooperate with VA examinations and thus waived review of additional records.

The Veteran's right ankle scar, status post surgery, is currently rated at 0 percent. The Board has ordered a remand to obtain updated treatment records and conduct a more current VA examination.

The Veteran's bruxism is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, TBI residuals, and bilateral chronic myogenic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity is denied as there is no evidence it began during service or is related to an in-service injury.,The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent due to mild incomplete paralysis.,The Veteran's right ankle disability has never resulted in marked limited motion and thus, the claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cause of death and burial benefits greater than $300 based on a service-connected death due to insufficient evidence supporting the causal link between his service-connected right ankle condition and his death.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for consideration of a TDIU prior to September 14, 2015 based on an extraschedular consideration.,A rating in excess of 30 percent for left ankle disability residuals remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board dismissed the claims of service connection for bilateral knee disabilities as they have already been granted in a previous rating decision. The claim for TDIU prior to February 27, 2015 is remanded and the claim for bilateral ankle disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is related to his service-connected acquired psychiatric condition.,His orchiodynia has been manifested by complaints of chronic pain, but no associated impairment of function.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle disability, left ankle disability, lumbosacral strain, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's assertions of continuity of symptoms since service were found to be less credible due to inconsistencies with medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to additional evidence and new examinations being required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence being added to his case file since the April 2018 SOC.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right foot scar is granted, effective from August 1, 2013. The claims of service connection for renal/genitourinary disorder and left ear hearing loss disability are denied. A new and material evidence petition to reopen the claim of service connection for left ankle disability has been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for further action due to insufficient medical opinions and additional evidence is needed. The Veteran's right ankle disorder may or may not be related to his service-connected foot strain, but this needs to be determined by a VA physician.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hip disabilities, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any service-connected disability. The VA examiners opined that there was insufficient medical evidence to support a link between the hip disorders and the service-connected bilateral ankle disorders.,For PTSD, the Board denied an increased rating beyond 30 percent, citing occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity but not meeting the criteria for higher ratings of 50%, 70%, or 100%.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an examination to determine if the Veteran's coronary artery disease is related to his military service and exposures.

The Board denied service connection for chronic residuals of a left ankle sprain and a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and conversion disorder.