Ankle decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have diabetes mellitus, prostate disability, kidney disease, bilateral ankle degenerative joint disease, or bone spurs as a result of his active service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than June 20, 2007 for the award of service connection for right ankle strain is not warranted.

The Board found no current diagnosis of a right ankle disorder and concluded that the Veteran's reported right ankle injury during service is not related to his current condition. As such, service connection for a right ankle disorder was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied as his service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for higher disability evaluations under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle fracture is not related to his active service or any incident thereof, including his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's diverticulitis and right ankle disability were found to be service-connected, but his left knee disability was not. The Board denied the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection for his right ankle disabilities and associated secondary conditions has been restored, with the effective date being July 7, 2006.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the alcohol dependence claim had no legal merit, while the major depressive disorder, left wrist disability, right ankle degenerative joint disease, and left ankle degenerative joint disease claims were not supported by evidence of a direct or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and left ankle disabilities were denied, and the increased ratings for residuals of excision of the left cheek nevus with scar and discoloration and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease at L4-L5 and L5-S1 were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an updated orthopedic examination of his left ankle.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected right ankle avulsion fracture with posttraumatic arthritis is being remanded due to the need for further medical examination and records.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to adjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle condition and a right foot disability, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and a left ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's current complaints are related to injuries sustained during active duty.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD and jungle rot of the feet and ankles. He also claims entitlement to service connection for dioxin poisoning and chloracne due to Agent Orange exposure.,The Veteran seeks a compensable rating for his asthma and residuals of a right ring finger injury.,Service connection for jungle rot, dioxin poisoning, and chloracne is granted as the conditions are presumed based on service in Vietnam. Service connection for PTSD is conceded based on military service and reported stressors.,The Veteran's asthma and right ring finger injuries are evaluated without a specific rating assigned.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examinations. The issues of increased rating, service connection for right ankle disorder, and service connection for low back injury will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including depression, mood changes, anxiety, bone degeneration of the L5-S1, swelling in multiple body parts, and weight gain, all secondary to his service-connected Addison's disease. The case is being remanded for further examination and development.

The Veteran's left ankle tendonitis is currently manifested by mild tenderness over the external border of the foot and over lateral aspect of the ankle, with a slight antalgic gait. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the assignment of an initial disability rating greater than 10 percent for service-connected left ankle tendonitis.