Ankle decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's varicose veins of the left and right lower extremities are due to disease or injury incurred in service, warranting service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for DJD of all joints, finding that his current DJD is not related to his active service and is more likely due to rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal of service connection for traumatic injuries to both feet is withdrawn. The claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus and a chronic left ankle disability have been reopened due to new and material evidence, but the issues remain undecided as there was no decision on the merits.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports her current psychiatric disabilities, which are likely related to in-service stressors and domestic abuse.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disorders as secondary to her service-connected left knee disability are being reopened. The Board is requesting additional medical opinions and records in order to properly assess the relationship between these conditions and her service-connected left knee disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for compliance with VA's duty to notify, as well as a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination and notification under VCAA. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate examinations to determine the nature and extent of his service-connected right ankle and left heel disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle adductor tendonitis is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available for this condition. The VA examiner found moderate limitation of motion in the ankle.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the cause of death and the need for a medical opinion regarding whether any service-connected conditions contributed to the Veteran's failure to thrive.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a scheduling issue.

The Veteran's medical treatment at Florida Hospital on July 29, 2004 was not for a service-connected disability and was not an emergency requiring immediate attention. The Board found the Veteran did not meet the criteria for payment under the Millennium Bill Act.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that TDIU is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left ankle, and bilateral knee conditions have been granted. The diagnoses are all related to in-service injuries or diseases.

The Veteran's congenital instability of the right ankle is not a disease that was incurred in or aggravated by service or by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including rotator cuff tear of the left shoulder, right shoulder disorder, left and right ankle disorders, left and right knee disorders, arteriosclerotic heart disease (ASHD), hypertension, and a neurological disorder (headaches) have all been denied. The Board found that none of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, characterized by limited motion and instability, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that the current evaluation adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining records from Therapy Direct and addressing the service connection for a right ankle condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for his claimed low back, right knee, bilateral hip, and left ankle disorders. The evidence fails to show an in-service event or injury related to these conditions, nor is there any indication of continuity of symptomatology post-service. As such, service connection cannot be granted.