Ankle decisions — 2011

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is manifested by marked limitation of motion and tender/painful scars, warranting a 20 percent rating for the service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected scars have been rated, and the Board finds that none of them meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The effective date remains unchanged at June 13, 2005.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of one or both feet, nor ankylosis of one or both knees or hips. The appeal is REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's current arthritis of the left ankle, left knee and left shoulder is unrelated to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a traumatic brain injury is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of right ankle sprains are not granted.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle disability and allergic conjunctivitis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for his right ankle disability, as there was no objective evidence of lost dorsiflexion or plantar flexion. For allergic conjunctivitis, the Veteran's claim was also denied as there was no frequent periods of hospitalization or marked interference with employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed right hip, right knee, and left ankle disorders were not incurred or aggravated by his service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of his claims, including sending a new Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) to the correct address.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left ankle disability is related to service or aggravates her right ankle and low back disabilities.

The Board determined that the Veteran's pre-existing right ankle injury was aggravated during service, resulting in traumatic arthritis of the right ankle. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and determining whether his injuries were due to willful misconduct.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected residuals of a hernia do not warrant an increased rating or earlier effective date. The Board found that the current evaluation adequately reflects the severity of his disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, indicating satisfaction with the current ratings for his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for his left ankle disability as of September 8, 2006 (the date of receipt of the increased-rating claim). This higher rating is effective February 8, 2010.,The Veteran's hearing loss in his left ear is rated at zero percent and does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues and will schedule a Travel Board hearing for the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for psoriasis of the bilateral wrist and ankles, and residuals of a rib fracture to include chest pain were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or nexus to service.

The Board found no evidence to support a service connection for the Veteran's bilateral ankle disorder, concluding that any current condition is not related to his active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for a left ankle disability, as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to this condition. The preponderance of the evidence supports the conclusion that any current left ankle arthritis degenerative joint disease is less likely than not related to his military service.