Ankle decisions — 2009

The Veteran seeks service connection for various disabilities, including a lacerated chin, bilateral foot disability, edema/itching arms and ankles, hip injury, back injury, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and ulcerative colitis. The appeal is remanded to obtain additional STRs and determine the Veteran's in-country service in Vietnam.,The Veteran seeks service connection for a bilateral foot disability. The appeal is remanded to obtain additional STRs and determine whether the Veteran served in-country in Vietnam.,The Veteran seeks service connection for edema/itching arms and ankles as a result of exposure to herbicides. The appeal is remanded to determine if the Veteran had in-service exposure to herbicides.,The Veteran seeks service connection for residuals of hip injury, back injury, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and ulcerative colitis as a result of exposure to herbicides. The appeal is remanded to determine if the Veteran had in-service exposure to herbicides.,The Veteran seeks service connection for residuals of hip injury and back injury. The appeal is remanded to obtain an appropriate VA examination to determine the likely onset and etiology of these disabilities.,The Veteran seeks service connection for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) as a result of exposure to herbicides. The appeal is remanded to determine if the Veteran had in-service exposure to herbicides.,The Veteran seeks service connection for ulcerative colitis as a result of exposure to herbicides. The appeal is remanded to determine if the Veteran had in-service exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle disability, claimed as a manifestation of an undiagnosed illness is being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and verifying the Veteran's reserve service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for scoliosis and a left ankle disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder due to new and material evidence. However, the claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a bilateral ankle disorder.

The Veteran's temporary total disability rating for convalescence under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 was denied because the right ankle fracture surgery occurred before his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right ankle injury in service did not result in a chronic disorder and arthritis was not demonstrated within one year of discharge. The examiner opined it is less likely than not that the single incident of stepping into a hole in 1966 caused the degenerative changes affecting the ankle.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to service for any of the claimed conditions, including bilateral hip disorder, right knee degenerative changes, left knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, or lumbar spine arthritis. As such, these claims are denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, and he has service connection for gout of the right ankle and a gastric ulcer secondary to his gout.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to motor vehicle accident and resulting head injury, as well as DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate evidence and the need for additional VA treatment records, updated income information, and a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disorder since February 23, 2008. Prior to that date, the disability was rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right arm disability, left wrist disability, neck disability, and low back strain prior to February 13, 2008 are all denied. The Veteran was granted a compensable rating (10%) for her left index finger distal interphalangeal joint tendon disruption.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection for right and left hip disabilities are denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right ankle remains February 6, 2001.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a left ankle disorder due to lack of evidence showing current disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected right ankle disability was denied by the RO. The Board found that the evidence did not show that the Veteran's service-connected condition had gotten worse to warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the appellant's current left ankle disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to December 23, 1997 for service connection and a higher initial evaluation for bilateral pes planus. The criteria for these claims were not met.