Ankle decisions — 2009

The Veteran claims a right ankle disability was incurred in service, but the evidence is unclear and conflicting. The Board has decided to remand the case for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and procedural defects, including a lack of initial RO consideration of new evidence submitted after the hearing. The Veteran is requested to provide information on all medical care providers who treated him for his left foot and left ankle disorder, particularly Dr. C.E.B.'s records from February 2000 onwards. An appropriate VA examination must be arranged to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's asserted left foot and left ankle disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed right ankle, right shoulder, and fracture of the right 5th metatarsal disorders. The claims are also being remanded for a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected degenerative disc disease, L5-S1, with radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected left ankle disability, bilateral hand disabilities, and right shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee condition is service-connected due to an injury sustained during active duty. The claim for a left ankle condition, which was secondary to his right foot disability, cannot be granted as there is no confirmed diagnosis of a current left ankle disorder.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that there is no current diagnosis and noting that these disabilities are not shown to be related to service.

The Board finds that the reduction of the Veteran's rating for osteoarthritis of the right ankle from 20 percent to 10 percent was proper based on medical evidence showing normal range of motion.

The Board found no current evidence of head, facial, right hand, or ankle disabilities and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for partial amputation of the left fourth finger and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the left leg have been denied. The remaining claims for right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle arthralgia have all been granted.

The Board found that the Veteran did not file a claim for separate evaluations for his right knee, ankle and bilateral leg disabilities prior to August 22, 2005. As such, the effective date of service connection cannot be earlier than August 22, 2005.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 and service connection for right ankle, back, and left hip disabilities. The case is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and conduct a medical examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right ankle sprain was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability resulting from an injury in service.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for cold injury residuals of the feet and ankles, as there is no objective evidence of such residuals in service or within one year following discharge.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed left ankle disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to ensure all relevant evidence has been obtained and considered, including SSA disability records and updated VA treatment records. The TDIU claim will be adjudicated in the first instance.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hip disabilities, as well as his ankle disabilities, were denied. His claims for increased ratings for knee disabilities were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and an examination, including records of VA treatment from February 2005 to the present, as well as a tarsal tunnel release. The issue of service connection for left tarsal tunnel syndrome is also raised.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for plantar callosities and corns with hallux valgus, bilateral. The decision on whether left ankle cellulitis without lymphangitis is service connected remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed right shoulder, elbow, wrist, ankle, and neck disorders are not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disorder and chorioretinal scar, as well as initial ratings for migraine headaches and GERD. The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent medical evidence.