Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for a right ankle disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder are denied.,Service connection for a respiratory disorder is denied.,Service connection for a heart disorder is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left ankle disorder and its relationship to his service-connected right ankle and low back disorders. The claims are also being remanded for a new examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's right ankle disorder.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of a right total knee replacement was previously denied in June 2013 due to lack of evidence showing VA error, and the Veteran did not appeal within one year.,New evidence received since June 2013 includes statements from a VA physician indicating additional surgeries were performed due to complications following the initial surgery. The Veteran also provided testimony about delays in scheduling physical therapy post-surgery.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The issues regarding her knee disabilities are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected right ankle fracture and degenerative arthritic changes of the left knee, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal disorders, including right arm, back, neck, hip, ankle, and knee conditions. The claims are being returned to VA for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to determine the nature, etiology, and severity of his ankle, knee, back, and lung disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the right-hand disability claim, and her parasitic infection, colon polyps, anemia, left ankle disability, and bad breath claims are also denied.

The Veteran's left ankle disability was rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to full range of motion without objective evidence of pain and interference with sitting, standing, and weight-bearing.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right ankle disabilities, as well as an increased rating for his low back strain, are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The RO is instructed to review this evidence and issue a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, bilateral foot disorder (excluding pes planus), and osteochondritis dissecans. The Veteran's current diagnoses were found to be unrelated to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, left knee, right ankle, and bilateral calf cramping disabilities. The claims are remanded to obtain VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of the January 2010 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle disability and scars are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for left lower extremity, lumbar spine, bilateral ear, skin or skin cancer, and psychiatric disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,The Veteran's claim for nasal fracture residuals is also remanded as he has not been provided a VA examination.

The Veteran's genu valgus/varus of the right knee is at least as likely as not caused by her service-connected low back disability, and thus she has a right knee disability that is secondary to her service-connected low back disability. The Board also found support for granting service connection for a right ankle disability based on the private chiropractor's opinion linking it to her service-connected low back disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a headache disorder, low back disorder, left ankle disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if service connection can be established for right ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, and chronic sinusitis.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and left ankle disability. The Board found that these disabilities are related to the Veteran's in-service parachute jumps.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea but has remanded the issues of right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, and bilateral ankle disorders due to insufficient evidence.