Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for dizziness, right ankle disability, left knee strain, right knee strain, thoracolumbar strain with sacroiliac degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left ankle ligament strain, and PTSD. The remand requests additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's postoperative Achilles tendon repair of the left foot is rated at 20 percent, which is granted.

The Veteran's GERD and hypothyroidism have been rated based on the severity of their symptoms. The Veteran is not entitled to higher initial disability ratings for these conditions.,For his hypothyroidism, the Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating from August 29, 2007, to October 12, 2009, and denied any increase in rating prior to this period and since October 13, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder, chronic venous stasis vascular disease in both legs, and ankle sores due to undiagnosed illness, have resulted in an inability to dress or undress himself, keep himself clean and presentable, feed himself without assistance, attend to the wants of nature on a regular basis, and protect himself from daily hazards. The Veteran needs aid and attendance for these reasons.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as they limit his ability to perform work that requires prolonged standing or walking and fine motor skills. The Board finds the evidence in equipoise regarding whether he is entitled to a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current cervical spine, right shoulder, right ankle and right knee disorders and his service. The VA is required to provide a new examination for each disorder.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has been rated as 20 percent disabling, but the Board finds that a higher evaluation is warranted due to marked limitation of motion.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (Major Depressive Disorder) is remanded and requires further examination to determine if it is related to service or his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The appeals for service connection of right knee, left knee, and left ankle disabilities have been dismissed.,The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent prior to July 20, 2013 for PTSD has been dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine spondylosis, left ankle sprain, residuals of a broken nose, tuberculosis (TB), and psoriasis as they are not related to active duty service.,Service connection was also denied for bladder cancer due to occupational exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right ankle sprain and a right foot condition due to insufficient examination reports, including lack of detailed range of motion findings. The issues are also intertwined as the right foot disability is claimed as secondary to the service-connected right ankle sprain.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for residuals of a torn ligament of the left foot and a left ankle fracture because no new and material evidence was submitted, and the existing evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen several service connection claims, but the Veteran's claim for a right thigh condition remains denied as there is no medical evidence linking the current condition to his active duty service. The other reopened claims are also denied due to lack of competent medical evidence.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of glaucoma, and the Board finds that there is no evidence to support service connection for this condition.,There is insufficient evidence to establish an in-service injury or event related to the neck condition. The preponderance of the evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's current neck disability did not originate during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus (secondary to PTSD), hypertension (secondary to PTSD), asthma, and a right foot disability were denied. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals of left ankle fracture was granted with a 10% rating effective July 31, 2008. Service connection for PTSD was granted with a 50% rating effective March 26, 2014. The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to March 26, 2014 was also granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.,Specifically, the Veteran’s left wrist fracture with residual sprain does not show ankylosis. His lumbar spine disability is not manifested by ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine. The right knee and left knee degenerative arthritis do not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion. The bilateral ankle degenerative joint disease are rated at 10% each.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including left knee disorder, right shoulder disorder, right forearm fracture residuals, right wrist disorder, and right ankle disorder. The diabetes claim is also remanded. VA treatment records from the 1980s are requested as well as any private medical records prior to 1988.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than April 18, 2011 and September 15, 2011 for his service-connected right hip degenerative joint disease with limitation of extension, flexion; right ankle degenerative joint disease; right knee patellofemoral syndrome; and left knee degenerative joint disease have been denied. The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder and left ankle disorders, but denied service connection for his coronary artery disease (CAD) and a claimed left foot disorder. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide an addendum opinion regarding the left foot disorder.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional VA examinations and treatment records. The Veteran's petition to reopen a previously denied claim of acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as his claim of headaches, are also on appeal.