Ankle decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and service connection for a left ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records from his Army Reserve service.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, cervical spine, lumbar spine, left hip, right hip, left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, left foot, and right foot disabilities as well as a heart disability.,The Board also denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for poor circulation of the left leg and post-operative fractured right ankle with degenerative joint disease was denied.,The Veteran also had an unsuccessful appeal for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to failure to schedule VA examinations as instructed in a previous remand.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip strain with osteoarthritis, right hip strain with osteoarthritis, left ankle osteoarthritis, and right ankle osteoarthritis, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee chondromalacia and lumbosacral strain.

The Board has granted a 20% rating for the Veteran's right ankle disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for his service-connected lacerated fifth finger, right hand. The case is now pending further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his ankle disabilities, service connection for neck and back disabilities, and right wrist disability have been dismissed. The claim of service connection for residuals of head injuries (including TBI and lacunar infarct) and headaches has been reopened.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The Board is seeking more information on the etiology of his skin condition, sinus issues, cervical spine disability, shoulder disabilities, hip disabilities, knee disabilities, and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E services, including a doctoral degree in osteopathic medicine, is remanded due to the need for a new vocational rehabilitation evaluation considering his current symptomatology and employment capabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are being remanded for additional examinations. The skin condition claim is related to in-service exposure, while the ankle disability claim requires further evidence regarding its onset.

The Veteran's claims for initial evaluations of his service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and development.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss is not reopened and denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for migraine headaches is not reopened and denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for OSA is denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral ankle condition is denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for myoclonic jerking is denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability is denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for gastrointestinal disorder is not reopened and denied.

The Board dismissed the appeal for entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claim. The remaining issues (bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right ankle disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder) are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for bone loss, neck disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral ankle disability as secondary to service-connected pleural disease.

The Veteran's right ankle arthritis is granted as service connected due to its onset during service and continuous symptoms since discharge, meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to non-compliance with previous remand directives regarding new and material evidence and service connection.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's residuals of right ankle sprain from September 4, 2013 through October 6, 2013 and from April 25, 2015 and thereafter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle, bilateral knee, leg cramps, and low back disabilities. The evidence did not show any current disability in these areas or that they were aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to the lack of a diagnosis under DSM-5 criteria.,The Board also denied service connection for a left ankle disability, finding no nexus between the current disability and service-connected bilateral knee or right ankle disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability does not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying his claim for TDIU.