Ankle decisions — 2010

The Veteran's left leg disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and his left knee disability is also rated at 20 percent. Both conditions are not manifest by more severe impairment warranting a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, left ankle post-traumatic changes of the malleoli with residual pain, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease. The Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic tendonitis of the left shoulder and residuals of right ankle osteochondritis dissecans, finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA orthopedic examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed low back and bilateral ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left ankle disability and headaches have been denied. The initial rating for the left ankle disorder remains at 10 percent, while the headaches are rated noncompensably disabling until January 1, 2009 when they were assigned a 30 percent rating.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for loss of memory, left ankle sprain and left calcaneal spur, and left shoulder impingement syndrome. The VA found that there was no evidence to support these conditions as being due to an undiagnosed illness or a bone condition.,There is no indication in the decision summary that any service connection for the appellant's claimed disabilities was granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities, including right wrist tendonitis, asthma, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The Veteran is still entitled to the current evaluations assigned.

The Veteran's left ankle disorder is being remanded for further examination and opinion as the previous VA examiner did not provide an adequate opinion regarding its relationship to service.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities were found to not warrant increased ratings prior to January 14, 2009. Beginning January 14, 2009, the disability ratings for his right and left ankle disabilities remained at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle condition and an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service, and denied the Veteran's claims for bilateral ankle disorder and paresthesia as a residual of extraction of wisdom teeth.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board found insufficient evidence to separate a right ankle disorder from the already service-connected bilateral heel disorder with calcaneal spurs and degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's claim for a distinct right ankle disability was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it is presumed to have been incurred in service. The other claims of service connection are not addressed as they are remanded.

The Veteran's preexisting bilateral pes planus was found to have been aggravated by service, and he is now granted service connection for this condition. The Board also finds that his thoracolumbar spine disorder may be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a secondary service connection theory of entitlement and an updated VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, headache disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depressive disorder), diabetes mellitus, and a low back disorder have been granted. The claim for residuals of a left ankle fracture has also been reopened.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left patellofemoral syndrome and right ankle sprain are likely due to injuries sustained during his period of active service, warranting service connection.