Ankle Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence linking any in-service injuries to current symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), finding no new and material evidence to reopen any of these claims. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence to establish direct service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to various joint and musculoskeletal issues as well as tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, lactose intolerance, prostate cancer, and its residuals. The Veteran's service in the Persian Gulf is noted.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for left ankle sprains has been granted, with an effective date of June 1, 2013. The disability is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including right shoulder strain, ankle and knee disabilities, back disability, and hypertension. The case will be remanded to obtain new VA examinations and opinions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of various disabilities and to obtain relevant VA treatment records. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the Veteran's dishonorable discharge from active military service. The tinnitus claim is granted, but other conditions are being remanded for further review.

The Veteran's appeals for initial noncompensable ratings for his right knee and right ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for updated medical examinations that comply with VA examination guidelines.

The Veteran's claim for left ankle disability is denied. The claim for tonsil/throat cancer is allowed to reopen, but the service connection remains denied. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further examination. Residuals of throat/tonsil cancer are also remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for a low back disorder, sleep apnea, and right ankle disorder. However, it has denied these claims as there is no current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, increased ratings for shoulder and ankle disabilities, asthma, and scars are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for twitching of the eye, finding that there is no evidence linking this condition to his active service. The claims for increased ratings for left ankle sprain, right ankle sprain, thoracic muscle strain, and right shoulder strain are remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back and right ankle disabilities due to incomplete review of medical records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, right shoulder, right iliotibial band syndrome, and right ankle sprain residuals are service-connected as of May 4, 2009.,Service connection for PTSD was established as of July 6, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability has been reopened. The Board finds new and material evidence to support the reopening of this claim. Other claims, including secondary service connection for back and left knee disabilities and bilateral pes planus, as well as TDIU, are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's initial ratings for various service-connected conditions were granted or denied. The appeal is mixed, with some issues having their initial ratings granted and others not.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and left ankle strain. The claim for a respiratory disability is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for back condition was granted. New evidence has been submitted that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's back brace is judged to cause wear and tear on his clothing, which meets the criteria for a clothing allowance. The medication used for his shoulder condition does not qualify for an additional allowance.

The Veteran's increased ratings for residuals of compound, comminuted fracture of the distal right tibia and fibula with residual scars, and status post right ankle fusion are denied. The maximum rating under Diagnostic Code 5271 is granted from June 20, 2011 to October 1, 2017 for the compound, comminuted fracture of the distal right tibia and fibula with residual scars. After October 1, 2017, a rating in excess of 30 percent is denied for status post right ankle fusion.