Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's petition to reopen his service connection claim for a back disability is granted. The Board has also remanded the claims of service connection for right shoulder, bilateral hands, bilateral knees, and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient competent medical evidence on file.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left leg disability, including his arthritis and its relationship to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right knee, and right ankle disabilities. The Veteran did not have these conditions during or within one year after her military service, nor can they be attributed to service.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding bilateral shoulder condition, right ankle reconstruction with residual scar, and lateral collateral ligament instability of the left knee due to the appellant's withdrawal request.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and withdrawn his appeal regarding an increased rating for left ankle sprain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability, which includes lumbar spine kyphoscoliosis with degenerative changes, is secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's back disability was caused by his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates were withdrawn.,A 10 percent rating was granted for a scar, status post herniorrhaphy. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to new evidence received since the October 2016 SOC.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 100 percent, while his right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent. The lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities are all denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, right and left ankle disabilities, and right and left shin splints as these conditions are not shown to have started during active service or be related to any in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone preclude substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to increased disability ratings and an earlier effective date for service connection. The Board has determined that additional evidence must be considered by the AOJ before a final decision can be made.

The Veteran is granted service connection for tinnitus, which began during service. The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and ankle disorders are not related to his military service.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a chronic disability in service or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle disability. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether the condition was related to service, caused or aggravated by his service-connected right foot ligament tear, and if it began during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient evidence showing he was unable to secure and maintain gainful employment despite his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has restored the 20 percent rating for a right ankle disability. The Veteran's appeal of a higher rating for his service-connected low back disability prior to January 24, 2012 is remanded due to inadequate examination report.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is characterized by marked limited motion, warranting a 20 percent rating. The Board has granted this rating.,For the entire appeal period, the Veteran's left knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent for anterior/posterior cruciate ligament tear and 30 percent for global laxity and rotary instability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder, finding that it is due to his service-connected pes planus. The decision also notes that all doubts are resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral ankle disorder, right knee instability, dry eye syndrome, and tinnitus have been remanded.