Ankle Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's right ankle disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection for PTSD, stomach disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral hand disability, bilateral wrist disability, bilateral ankle disability, left knee disability, traumatic head/brain injury, right shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, or left inguinal hernia, status-post surgical repair is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn on the issues of entitlement to service connection for ankle arthritis, gum disease, a cracked jawbone, hypertension and a skin condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of Bell's palsy is granted. The Board finds ample evidence to support the onset and ongoing residuals of Bell's palsy in service, with very little evidence suggesting otherwise.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not establish a link between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle and left shoulder disabilities are not related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus, and thus cannot be granted on a secondary basis.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151 for a disability to the right foot, ankle or heel as a result of a steroid injection performed in August 1985 at VA Medical Center in San Juan. The case has been remanded due to inadequate examination and development.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being permanently housebound is denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, with the exception of the time period from March 26, 2012 to April 30, 2013 when he had a 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of various disabilities. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the appellant's claims, including obtaining service treatment records and arranging for VA examinations to address his right ankle, left ear disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, left ankle sprain, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep disturbance are all found to be related to service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The case is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination for the Veteran's left ankle disability and to determine if he qualifies for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back, bilateral ankle, and right shoulder disabilities did not manifest during service or are otherwise directly related to her service. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding that these conditions were caused by or aggravated by her service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for vocational rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31, Title 38, United States Code has been withdrawn. The Board is dismissing the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing at his convenience. The claims of service connection and rating for various conditions are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed left leg and foot disabilities, as previous examinations were inadequate.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, bilateral foot disorder, bilateral knee disorder, right ankle disorder, headache disorder, and residuals of Bell's palsy. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly address these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received from SSA and missing VA treatment records. The Veteran's alleged hospitalization in June 1979 needs to be verified, and a VA examination is needed to assess whether his headaches are related to service.