Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various disabilities, including cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, left shoulder arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with strain status post fusion, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease of the right hip, degenerative joint disease of the left hip, left knee arthritis, leg length discrepancy, chronic right ankle sprain with avulsion fracture and Morton’s neuroma, scar, anterior neck, nonlinear surgical scar, right shoulder, surgical scars, right shoulder, tension headaches, right inguinal neuropathy, status post inguinal hernia repair, attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with mood disorder, and bruxism with temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Additional examinations are needed to determine the current severity of these disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including depression (claimed as PTSD), left knee patellar femoral syndrome, and left ankle tenosynovitis, were denied earlier effective dates.,Claims for service connection for lumbar strain and tinnitus were also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right above the knee amputation. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including fibromyalgia, right shoulder disability, left arm and right arm disabilities, neck condition, right knee and ankle disabilities, bilateral ear condition, insomnia, abdominal pain, edema, skin irritation of the genitals, toe nail condition, and diabetes mellitus. The decision also reopened claims for service connection for some conditions.

The Veteran's back condition and left ankle injury are related to active service.,Entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder condition, bilateral pes planus, PTSD, depressive disorder, pseudofolliculitis barbae, hearing loss, tinnitus, degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and depressive disorder, rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to August 28, 2015.

All claims for service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.,The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability related to any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's GERD and cervical spine pain are granted service connection. The bilateral foot disability, right shoulder, knee, and ankle scars, and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome are all granted initial ratings of 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his in-service injuries or diseases.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, and the criteria for TDIU have been met since November 20, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disability, characterized as arthritis of the left ankle, is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities including left shoulder, right shoulder, back, left knee, and bilateral eye conditions due to a lack of current diagnoses or functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient analysis regarding whether the Veteran's cardiac disability is related to his service-connected chronic sinusitis and/or TCE exposure. The Veteran needs to provide updated VA and private treatment records, and a medical opinion should be obtained.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased ratings on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to the inadequacy of the April 2013 VA examination and the need for new opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle, right hip, left knee, and low back conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his non-psychiatric service-connected disabilities. Other claims are also being considered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to report for VA examinations and because of an earlier effective date claim. The claims will be remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right ankle disability, pes planus of the right foot, hammertoe of the right foot, and scars on the right foot are all rated as they currently stand without any higher ratings being granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for left shoulder disability, back pain, cervical spine disability, right ankle disability, and lung disability. The remand requires further examination and opinion regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and left ankle arthritis, prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment due to his physical limitations and mental health issues.