Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected bilateral ankle and knee disabilities have been denied. The right ankle disability remains at a maximum rating of 20%, while the left ankle disability is rated as 20% disabling. Ratings in excess of these levels are not warranted.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability, finding no evidence of such condition during or after service. The Veteran's left ankle injury is recognized but not related to the right ankle.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition worsened during his combat service. The right ankle disorder issue is remanded due to insufficient nexus opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including bilateral deafness, a bilateral hip disorder, a neck disorder, a bilateral shoulder disorder, a back disorder, a bilateral knee disorder, a bilateral ankle disorder, a bilateral arm disorder, carpal tunnel syndrome of the bilateral hands, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder), hypertensive cardiovascular disease, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, a bilateral elbow disorder, and a bilateral foot disorder were not caused by or related to his active duty service.,The Veteran's claimed conditions did not manifest within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted. The claims for service connection for a right foot disorder and a right ankle disorder are denied.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of rheumatoid arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, left ankle disability, and left foot disability. The claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct link to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain medical records and provide an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's shoulder disabilities. The right ankle disability case remains denied as a rating greater than 10 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's left ankle lateral/collateral ligament sprain is granted as service-connected. The initial rating for his left knee strain remains at 10 percent, with the issue of a higher rating being remanded. Service connection for nasal disability and right wrist disability are also remanded. The TDIU claim from June 11, 2007 through November 15, 2011 is still pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability, finding no link between his current condition and his military service or any service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's left ankle disability was found to have only moderate limited motion, with no evidence of greater impairment. The Board denied a rating in excess of the current 10 percent assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The initial rating claim for tension headaches has been granted, but no specific rating assigned yet.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed for several issues, including left ankle, left knee, left shoulder disabilities, right ear pain, and chronic jaw pain.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left foot disability is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU prior to December 12, 2018 is denied.

The Board has withdrawn several issues from the Veteran's appeal, including those related to PTSD, IBS, lumbar degenerative disc disease and lumbar facet hypertrophy, obstructive sleep apnea, left ankle fracture with residual loose body, tendonitis and left foot talar osteochondral defect, right ankle osteochondral defect status post-surgical repair with history of strain. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim and his claims for service connection for blood clots of the left knee.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate factual premise in its previous decision, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current right ankle disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for chronic nose bleeds has been withdrawn. The claim of service connection for low back disability is reopened and granted. Issues regarding left knee and left ankle disabilities are remanded, as well as the TDIU issue.

The Board has granted service connection for both the right and left ankle disabilities, finding that these conditions are causally related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a rating of 70 percent from November 22, 2013. The appeal is remanded for further evaluation on the issues of increased ratings for various conditions.