Ankle decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for right foot/ankle arthritis and left foot/ankle arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his parachuting duties while in service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, bilateral knee, bilateral ankle, and sleep apnea disorders have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or nexus to service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and insomnia) has been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board denied payment for non-VA medical services provided to the Veteran on June 15, 2015 due to lack of prior authorization and failure to meet emergency treatment criteria.,The Board also denied payment for non-VA medical services provided to the Veteran on September 17, 2015 because it was not found to be an emergency condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been reopened, and the Board finds that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at 10% under Diagnostic Code 6260, which only allows a single evaluation for recurrent tinnitus. The Veteran's left ankle disability is remanded for further examination to determine its current severity.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected left ankle and left shoulder disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current functional limitations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for recurrent ankle and foot disabilities, as well as a rating for migraine headaches. The issues are related to in-service parachute jumps.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's right ankle tendonitis and left ankle disorder. The claims are also being considered for secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected healed fractures, right tibia and fibula, with right ankle degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for her bilateral knee, hip, and right ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and higher ratings are remanded due to the need for VA examinations, consideration of new evidence, and readjudication.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disorder, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right knee chondromalacia, left knee chondromalacia (status post surgery), right ankle degenerative changes (post-fracture), right shoulder degenerative changes, and left shoulder status post resection of the left distal clavicle are all granted. Headaches and sinusitis also received initial rating grants.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral knee disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and TBI have been granted.,Service connection for hepatitis C has been denied.

Additional evidence is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus. The Board requires that federal records and private treatment records be obtained.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including an eating disorder leading to obesity) may require a VA examination due to his reported sleep habits in service, but more information is needed from the medical records.,Insomnia needs further evaluation as there are no current VA examinations addressing this issue. The Board requires that private treatment records be obtained and a VA examination conducted.,The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) may require a VA examination to determine if it is related to service, including his reported symptoms in service. More information from the medical records is needed.,A bilateral ankle disability needs further evaluation as there are no current VA examinations addressing this issue. The Board requires that private treatment records be obtained and a VA examination conducted.,The Veteran's low back disability may require a VA examination to determine if it is related to service, including his reported injury in service. More information from the medical records is needed.,Sciatica needs further evaluation as there are no current VA examinations addressing this issue. The Board requires that private treatment records be obtained and a VA examination conducted.,The Veteran's headache disability (including migraines) may require a VA examination to determine if it is related to service, including his reported symptoms in service. More information from the medical records is needed.,Residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) needs further evaluation as there are no current VA examinations addressing this issue. The Board requires that private treatment records be obtained and a VA examination conducted.

The Veteran's service-connected ankle, knee, hip, wrist, elbow, and foot disabilities have been granted. A 10 percent rating for GERD has also been granted.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records from Texas Physical Therapy.

The Board has denied a higher rating for the Veteran's right ankle disability and has remanded the issue of service connection for pes planus secondary to his right ankle disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle disability is at least as likely as not related to a left foot stress fracture he incurred during active service, and thus grants service connection for his left ankle injury.

The Board has determined that there is no clear and unmistakable error in the April 2018 rating decision assigning an overall combined evaluation of 80 percent. The Veteran's lumbar spine, right ankle, bilateral foot, and left wrist disabilities are all currently under consideration for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and TDIU due to issues with his lumbar spine, knees, and ankles. The AOJ is instructed to obtain VA opinions on the severity of the Veteran's back condition during flare-ups and following repeated use over time, etiology of his knee conditions, etiology of his ankle condition, and extraschedular consideration for TDIU prior to April 1, 2013.

The Veteran's GERD is service-connected as secondary to his Parkinson's disease. He received a 40% rating for his lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and an increased rating for his right ankle fracture residuals.