Ankle decisions — 2011

The Board determined that the Veteran's claimed left knee and left ankle disorders were not incurred during active duty service, nor are they related to an injury or illness incurred by the Veteran during his active duty service. As such, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to a lack of hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his left ankle fracture and postoperative residuals of synovitis of the right knee, finding that there was no demonstration of marked limitation of motion in either condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle strain is related to his active service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee, right knee, and left ankle disabilities are related to his active service. The appeal is granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that the Veteran's tinnitus is attributable to acoustic trauma during active military service. The claims of entitlement to initial compensable evaluation for degenerative joint disease of the right ankle, initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right and left wrists, and a TDIU are REMANDED.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of a left ankle injury acquired in service, but he was granted service connection for varicose veins. The decision is mixed as it grants one condition and denies another.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his heart disability.

The Veteran's preexisting acne was aggravated by service, resulting in current disability. Service connection is granted for this condition. The Board finds that further examination and opinion are needed to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral ankle disorder, left inguinal hernia, left varicocele, bilateral knee disorder, and left wrist disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with prior remand instructions, requiring a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral ankle arthritis is related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities are related to his service-connected pes planus, which is a direct result of his military service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's chronic left ankle instability with degenerative arthritis is service-connected, as it was incurred during his period of active duty.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was found to be incurred in service, and he is granted service connection. However, his right ankle sprain did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent from February 17, 2006 to September 12, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and for a comprehensive examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities alone are sufficiently severe to produce unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a bilateral ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records from German hospitals and SSA disability determination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a right foot fracture and service connection for left and right knee and ankle conditions were denied. The Board found that the current rating for residuals, right foot fracture is not warranted as there was no evidence of moderate disability.

The Board found no causal connection between the Veteran's claimed residuals of a right lower extremity injury, other than the right great toe, and service. The claim for secondary service connection was not addressed as it is not part of the main issue.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the compensable evaluation for the service-connected left hand injury, Barrett's disease, sleep apnea, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder. He also withdrew his petitions to reopen the claims of service connection for a low back disorder and a left eye disorder (astigmatism).

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and examination to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities, including hypertension, bilateral foot disability, peripheral neuropathy, arthritis, memory loss, erectile dysfunction, ankle and leg disabilities, and diabetes mellitus. The case will be re-adjudicated based on all evidence.