Ankle decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates were denied as the evidence did not show that any of his service-connected disabilities warranted an earlier effective date than November 9, 2007.

The Veteran's cervical spine, low back, left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities are being remanded for additional development due to the need to address the impact of his airborne training. The ankle disabilities are separate from the thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease or degenerative joint disease.

The Board denied service connection for right foot and ankle disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

[object Object]

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and missing autopsy reports.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and compensation for residuals of a left ankle fracture and residuals of fractured facial bones, as the claims were originally denied in October 1970 and reopened based on new evidence submitted in September 2005. The claim for an initial compensable rating for residuals of fractured facial bones was also denied.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is productive of limitation of motion, swelling, pain, ligament laxity, synovitis, and loose bodies in the joint. The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for residuals of a left ankle sprain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the unavailability of his service records. The VA will attempt to locate and obtain any missing medical records, including those from the Marine Barracks where he was treated for injuries in service.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are granted as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Veteran's postoperative residuals of an osteochondroma of the left ankle and fibula with tibia involvement are currently rated at 30% disabling, which is not sufficient to meet the criteria for a higher rating. The VA has determined that these disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board found no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for additional action, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining relevant VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal involves requests for higher initial ratings following awards of service connection for right and left ankle and knee disabilities. The RO has remanded the case due to failure to provide proper notice regarding a scheduled Travel Board hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for capsulitis, left foot and ankle, to include as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease, right knee, remains pending.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's service-connected left ankle fracture, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a moderate disability.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is presumed to be etiologically related to his in-service herbicide exposure. His skin conditions of the bilateral feet/ankles are found to have been caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus secondary to it. The Veteran's right wrist disability is rated at 10 percent.

The Board finds that the Veteran's chronic left ankle strain is at least as likely as not related to his injury in service, and grants service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury.

The Veteran is permanently and totally disabled due to service-connected disabilities, including her left hip and spine conditions, which together with the residuals of her organic injuries so affect her balance that she cannot locomote without a cane or walker. The criteria for specially adapted housing assistance have been met.