Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a right ankle sprain, left hip sciatica, and migraine headaches have been granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral ankle disability and arthritis of the ankles were not incurred or aggravated by active service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities and new claims. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the issuance of a Statement of the Case on certain issues, including those involving sleep apnea and hemorrhoids/dizziness.

The Board has ordered additional development as requested by the Veteran, including obtaining VA treatment records and any relevant medical records from St. Mary's Hospital in Tennessee.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle strain with DJD, right knee DJD, and left knee DJD. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be related to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain relevant VA treatment records and for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle arthritis is related to his period of active service and grants service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral ankle disorder and determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral ankle disorder is not related to his service. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current painful right ankle did not have onset during his active service and was not caused by a right ankle injury during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury is denied.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and dysthymia, left lower extremity disorder (chronic left ankle sprain with local superficial nerve entrapment), degenerative disk disease and/or stenosis of the cervical and lumbar spine, and right upper extremity disorder (radiculopathy) are all found to be related to her active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disabilities are less likely than not caused by a back injury during military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding her service connection claims and a VA medical examination.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was granted an initial rating of 20 percent from February 25, 2014, to the present. The Veteran also received a 10 percent rating for his right ankle disability from January 12, 2012, to February 24, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for left ankle impairment and service connection for limb girdle muscular dystrophy, finding that his symptoms most closely approximated a 20 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claims can be adjudicated, including obtaining medical opinions and verifying the Veteran's periods of active duty for training.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury. The pre-existing TBI is found to have been aggravated by active duty service, warranting service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to a pending videoconference hearing request. The Veteran's claims of service connection and TDIU are still under review.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic left ankle strain resulted in moderately limited motion, but did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.