Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder are granted as they are at least as likely as not related to service.,Right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased rating of left ankle disorder, low back disorder, and left leg disorder due to incomplete medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted with a 20% rating prior to August 11, 2020 and denied for higher ratings thereafter. A separate 20% rating is granted for painful scars associated with the right ankle and left knee as of August 11, 2020. The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is granted a 30% rating from March 1, 2018 to August 10, 2020 and denied for higher ratings thereafter.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic prostatitis is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of entitlement to initial ratings for achilles tendonitis and DJD of the lumbar spine, as well as a higher rating for the lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disorder is reopened, and the issues of service connection for multiple joint disorders are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and psychiatric disorder have been granted. The left ankle disability is considered to be related to his in-service injury, while the psychiatric disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's right and left wrist disabilities, diagnosed as tendonitis, were granted service connection.,The Veteran's diverticulitis was granted service connection. His headaches and psychiatric disability (insomnia with generalized anxiety disorder) were also granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that it is proximately due to the appellant's service-connected left leg disabilities.,Service connection was denied for obstructive sleep apnea as there is no causal relationship with his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if his lumbar spine, cervical spine, knee, shoulder, and ankle disabilities are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his service-connected left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities. Additionally, the TDIU and automobile allowance claims are also being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's request to withdraw his right wrist disability claim has been accepted. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in his left ear, and therefore service connection for left ear sensorineural hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss is granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service. However, the Board has remanded to obtain clarification regarding whether the Veteran currently has a hip or knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip and back disorders, as well as a shoulder disorder. The VA must obtain additional medical opinions to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral feet, and ankles have been granted.,Service connection has also been established for major depressive disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle tenosynovitis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right foot pes planus. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a gynecological condition and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's right ankle condition. The low back and respiratory conditions have been denied as not related to service.

Service connection for an eye disability, sleep apnea, and a left ankle disability is denied. The issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral leg disorder (sciatica), left knee disorder, and right ankle disorder. The Veteran's appeal was remanded for further action on the issues of secondary service connection for bilateral leg disorder and right knee disorder.,Service connection for a low back disorder is denied as there is no evidence of chronicity during or within one year following separation from active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar-spine disorder, shin splints, right-shoulder disorder, left-shoulder disorder, right-wrist disorder, left-wrist disorder, and right-ankle disorder due to an outstanding duty to assist.

The Veteran's somatic symptoms disorder with depression and anxiety, right ear hearing loss, bilateral shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, bilateral knee degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia, bilateral ankle strain, and left foot condition (various diagnoses) have all been granted service connection.,An initial compensable rating for a post appendectomy scar has not been met.

The appeal for service connection of a right ankle condition and bilateral flat foot condition is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.