Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records from VA and private facilities. The Veteran's left ankle and low back disorders are being reviewed again with these new records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss was withdrawn by the Veteran during his hearing before the Board.,Service connection is granted for cystic acne, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right knee disability. Service connection is denied for a right ankle disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability with traumatic arthritis does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for an increased rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has determined that the VA opinions obtained on remand are inadequate for the issues of service connection for sleep apnea and a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for right ankle sprain residuals. The claims must be returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for residuals of head trauma, including intracranial hemorrhage; lumbar spine disability as secondary to left ankle disability; and headaches as secondary to service-connected status post injury to left orbital region with sensory impairment of left trigeminal nerve.

The Veteran's left ankle instability is now rated at 20 percent, effective September 15, 2009. The increased rating for the left ankle sprain remains denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining authorization to obtain treatment records from a non-VA medical provider in Springfield Gardens, New York, and verifying the Veteran's reported stressors. The issues of service connection for right foot and ankle disorders are also being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, cirrhosis, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability. The Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his military service.,Secondary service connection was also denied as the Veteran does not have a service-connected condition that could be linked to his cirrhosis or ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and readjudication due to inconsistencies in medical opinions regarding his ankle disorders and potential changes in his disability picture.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding obesity and its relation to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right and left ankle, and bilateral wrist/hand disabilities due to a lack of medical opinion regarding their relationship to service.

The Veteran's service-connected back and left ankle disabilities result in loss of use of the left lower extremity, allowing her to be eligible for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance.

The Board has received a statement from the Veteran withdrawing his appeal for service connection claims related to left knee and left ankle disabilities. As a result, the appeals are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to deficiencies in previous VA opinions and lack of contemporaneous medical records.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, plantar fasciitis, ankle disorders, diabetic neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities have been dismissed. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted.,Remaining issues of service connection are remanded: low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, chronic skin disorder, OSA, hypertension, migraines, diabetes, and CFS.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorders, bilateral ankle disorders, and a back disorder due to incomplete development of records.

The Veteran's claims for fatty liver, low back disorder, left shoulder disorder, bilateral athlete's foot, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder have all been denied. The issues of service connection for right and left hip disorders and right and left ankle disorders are being remanded.

The appeals for service connection of a right ankle disability and an effective date prior to June 18, 2017 for the grant of a 70 percent rating for adjustment disorder with depressed mood have been dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee and ankle disabilities are being remanded for additional development.,The Veteran is seeking increased disability evaluations for his right knee and ankle conditions, as well as a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for PTSD, as well as the grant of a TDIU effective September 2, 2013, are all granted. The OSA claim was reopened based on new evidence received after the initial denial in 2012.