Ankle Board decisions

The Board is remanding the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left foot disorder, a left ankle disability, and a laceration on the back of head. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.,The Board is remanding the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for a left knee disorder due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding direct service incurrence and aggravation.,The TBI claim is being remanded as well, requiring a new VA examination to assess current severity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, osteoarthritis of the hips and knees, degenerative disc disease, and radiculopathy, have rendered her unable to work due to functional limitations. The Board finds that further examination is needed to assess these effects on employment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for a right ankle disability, skin condition, and PTSD. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea, left and right ankle disabilities, and headaches have been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ulcerative colitis and left ankle degenerative joint disease with surgical fusion and ankylosis, are deemed to render him unemployable. The Board has granted TDIU on a schedular basis due to the combined rating of 90 percent for his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to procedural issues and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's death is noted, but DIC claim remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for left ankle, left knee, and back disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran will be provided with new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for higher evaluations on several of his service-connected conditions, including degenerative disc disease with spondylosis, lumbosacral spine; left knee tendonitis; right knee tendonitis; left ankle strain; and right ankle strain. The appeal regarding unspecified depressive disorder was granted.

The Board dismissed all appeals regarding the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as he withdrew his appeals in May 2016. The Veteran was granted a TDIU from July 26, 2012.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for residual fracture of the left foot, with swollen ankle and degenerative joint disease, and for TDIU prior to September 14, 2015. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to assess his current disability status.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to conflicting evidence and need for further examination. The spine disability claim is related to in-service events, while the left leg and ankle disabilities are linked to a casting incident during service.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for a left knee disability has been granted. An initial increased rating of 40 percent for the lumbar spine disability is granted effective January 27, 2016. For the period prior to May 12, 2015, an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for the left ankle disability is denied. A 10 percent disability rating for the left ankle disability is granted beginning May 12, 2015. An increased rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to May 15, 2017, and in excess of 70 percent from May 15, 2017, is denied. For the period prior to May 15, 2017, entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, back, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), asthma, cholecystitis, and Parkinson’s disease have all been denied.,No new or material evidence was received to reopen any of the previously denied claims.

The Board has determined that there is equipoise evidence to support the claim, and thus service connection for left ankle degenerative joint disease as secondary to service-connected digital neuroma of the left great toe is granted.

The Veteran's claims for reopening service connection for left hip and left ankle disabilities have been granted. The Board has also remanded several issues including service connection for thyroid cancer, breast mass, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, hypertension, digestive disorder, respiratory condition, upper back/neck disability, migraine headaches, and others.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a right shoulder disability and TBI residuals, were denied. The claim for service connection for the right shoulder was reopened due to new evidence, but the claim is still denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service injury or current condition related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee, back, neck and right ankle disabilities are being remanded for further examination to assess their severity.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied service connection for low back, neck, right ankle, right eye, and acquired psychiatric disabilities as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance is remanded due to the lack of VA treatment records and previous award determinations. The Board needs to obtain all relevant medical records, including those from orthopedic treatments and any prior clothing allowance awards.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of infection during VA treatment in 2003, finding no additional disability related to the treatment.

The Veteran is granted an annual VA clothing allowance for the year 2015 due to use of skin medications (Melaquin HP 4% Cream and Benzoyl Peroxide 10% Lotion). The other claims are denied.