Ankle decisions — 2008

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage prerequisite for a TDIU, and there is no competent medical opinion that his service-connected conditions alone prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a hemorrhoidectomy was denied.,Service connection for residuals of a left ankle sprain was granted with an effective date of March 18, 2002. The veteran requested an earlier effective date but the appeal is not on this issue.,The veteran's claim to reopen service connection for PTSD was denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and temporary total disability ratings were granted, with the exception of his claim for service connection for right hip, left hip, and left knee disorders which was denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for left thumb and left ankle disorders due to insufficient examination findings and lack of nexus opinions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and active duty service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to address the current nature and likely etiology of any diagnosed disorder(s) of the right ankle and the severity of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a bilateral hand disability, right ankle fracture, or right knee disability as the result of disease or injury incurred in service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any back, vision loss (specifically low vision), or ankle and leg conditions. The evidence does not support service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the appellant's preexisting right ankle disorder was aggravated by his period of active duty for training. The case will be remanded for a VA examination and consideration of the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.306.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ankle and right knee disabilities are not related to his service-connected neuritis of the saphenous nerve, and thus cannot be granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses for his claimed conditions, and therefore, service connection cannot be granted.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the RO in Houston, Texas. The veteran and his representative will be notified of the date and time of the hearing.

The veteran's muscle herniation of the right anterior lower leg is rated at 10 percent, and his scars on the right calf are not compensable. The effective date for service connection of his degenerative changes of the right ankle remains July 17, 2003.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including a left shoulder disability, tinea pedis, and other musculoskeletal issues. Service connection is not granted as the evidence does not show these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ankle disorder is not related to his service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA appeal records and VA treatment records.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been remanded due to outstanding issues. The low back disability claim is being reviewed, as are the other two issues.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to her in-service stressors. The claim for arthritis of the right ankle remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for any of the conditions listed, including low back disability, left ankle sprain, eye disorder (other than conjunctivitis), bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, chronic lung disorder (PPD positive), gastrointestinal disorder (indigestion or gastritis), prostatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, bronchopneumonia, peptic ulcer disease, ischemic heart disease and hypertensive cardiovascular disease with angina, diabetes mellitus, acute pyelonephritis, liver condition, Bell's palsy with facial numbness, dengue hemorrhagic fever, and erectile dysfunction.