Ankle decisions — 2011

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is attributable to active duty service and he has been granted service connection for this condition. The Board also found that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder and left ankle disorder are not directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's diagnosed lumbodorsal back disability, including shoulder and hip pain, is considered service-connected due to an undiagnosed illness associated with Gulf War service.,Ankle joint pain is also considered service-connected as an undiagnosed illness related to Gulf War service.

The Veteran's tendonitis and tenosynovitis of the right foot at the insertion of the peroneus brevis, as residuals of a right ankle injury, are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a pinched nerve of the upper back, bilateral ankle pain, and bilateral leg pain have been denied. The Board found no current disability related to these conditions and insufficient evidence linking them to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle injury and right lung disability, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic disability related to service.

The Board has identified several issues for remand, including the need to provide a Statement of the Case (SOC) concerning service connection for left ear hearing loss and increased evaluations for pes planus, left foot, and residuals of left ankle injury. Additionally, a VA audiological examination is required to assess the current level of severity of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and further analysis of his claims.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee internal derangement and osteoarthritis are granted, but his claimed hip, ankle, and foot disabilities are not found to be related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left ankle fracture with degenerative joint disease, right ankle and hip arthritis, and right knee degenerative joint disease, meet the criteria for a schedular total disability rating from May 7, 2004 to November 6, 2008. The claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a lack of sufficient evidence to decide the claim, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination by a medical professional with expertise in rheumatology.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's medical records and clarify certain issues. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The evidence does not show the Veteran currently has a bilateral ankle disability, and therefore service connection cannot be established.

The Veteran's right knee disability is found to be the result of an injury incurred in service. Service connection for a left ankle disability and a right ankle disability are also granted, with the latter potentially due to aggravation by her service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical examination and review of the claims file, including the December 2010 motor conduction studies. The Veteran's service connection claims for left knee disability, bilateral wrist and thumb disability, and left ankle disability will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran does not currently suffer from a right ankle disorder or residuals of a broken right foot as a result of his military service. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a cognitive disorder as one of the residuals of TBI sustained in service. The Veteran's TBI is related to an accidental explosion during active duty.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right ankle arthritis and instability are etiologically related to service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ankle disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a left ankle disorder, as well as his claim for an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran did not have a left ankle disability or provide credible evidence to support his claimed residuals from a left ankle sprain.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his ankle and hip disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that any of these conditions had markedly interfered with his employment status or necessitated frequent periods of hospitalization.