Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of his lumbar spine, left and right knee, right ankle, and right foot disabilities as secondary to his service-connected residuals of fracture of the left ankle with traumatic arthritis due to inadequate opinions from VA examiners.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral ankle disorder is related to service, despite conflicting opinions from VA and private examiners. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether the current disability was caused by service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are remanded due to insufficient examination reports. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to assess her left leg disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence. The effective date for the grant of service connection for a left ankle sprain is denied as there were no prior unadjudicated claims.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection were denied as the evidence did not show an increase in disability or a new claim within one year of the initial rating decisions.,The Veteran was granted service connection for his conditions, but the effective dates assigned are based on when he filed his original claims.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for schizophrenia and PTSD have been granted. The appeals to reopen the claims for left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and headaches are also granted.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of a right foot/ankle fracture and tinnitus are granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his left ankle disability was denied prior to March 18, 2015. From that date forward, he received an increased rating of 20 percent. The Veteran also received a grant of TDIU effective from May 8, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand and a right ankle condition associated with right knee sprain with internal derangement have been reopened due to new evidence submitted since the last denial.,Service connection is not granted as the Board finds that the current conditions are less likely than not proximately due to or caused by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches was granted. The initial compensable rating claim for left ear hearing loss was denied. The issue of service connection for a left knee disability is dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The issues of service connection for right ankle strain and low back disability are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle disability is reasonably shown to be due to an injury sustained in service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings of hypertension, left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, right shoulder strain, right lateral epicondylitis, right ankle strain, upper airway resistance syndrome, and PTSD prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease (IBS/GERD), hypertension, fatigue, and various knee and elbow disabilities has been denied as the evidence does not support the presence of these conditions during service or their current existence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for rheumatoid arthritis, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, right ankle arthritis, and left ankle arthritis. The effective dates were not established as the issues are referred to the RO.

The Board has denied service connection for right ankle, left ankle, and left knee disabilities due to lack of current diagnoses. The Veteran's TBI residuals claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to incomplete records and need for clarification on service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a reduction in her rating for degenerative disease of left ankle from 20 percent to 10 percent is granted. Her claims for service connection for residuals of head and neck injury (right-sided cervical spondylosis), lumbar spine disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, and leg disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right ankle disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to service connection issues. The Veteran's statements indicate he sustained injuries during active duty in Panama, but his service records do not confirm this. Additional verification is needed.