Ankle decisions — 2011

The Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are granted service connection. The right ankle disability, Haglund's deformity of the left foot, and bilateral knee disabilities are not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no current evidence of a bilateral ankle disability, and the Veteran did not have any other disabilities related to his period of active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a request for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The case will be returned to the RO for scheduling a video conference hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable as he can perform sedentary employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the need to address the credibility of the Veteran's lay statements regarding chronic and continuous symptoms following service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for clarification of a VA examination report, and further evaluation is required before service connection can be determined.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a bilateral knee and ankle condition due to the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and adjudication, including obtaining updated medical evaluations and opinions regarding his ability to engage in the profession of massage therapy.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is manifested by marked limitation of plantar flexion and pain, warranting a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral knee disability and residuals of a left ankle injury. The claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder was granted.,There is competent medical evidence showing that the Veteran currently has a psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder, related to his period of active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability, including tarsal tunnel syndrome, is being remanded due to inadequate development and the need for an examination of both ankles.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle sprain, left ankle laxity, and bilateral patellofemoral syndrome are related to his military service. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Board hearing at the RO. The issues include service connection claims and a rating claim.

The Board has not yet decided the issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disorders. The dental disorder claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to military service.

The Veteran's left foot disability, manifested by chronic pain and slight curl-down of all lesser toes without callosities or more than moderate pes cavus deformity, does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under any applicable rating code.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and a VA examination to determine if any current bilateral knee, foot, or ankle disabilities are related to injuries in service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability. The new evidence submitted includes statements and testimony from the Veteran alleging continuity of symptoms since his period of active service, which is considered material to reopening the claim. However, the Board finds that there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's current bilateral eye disability was preexisting or aggravated by service. Service connection for blood clots and heart disability are also not established based on the available evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is capable of performing sedentary employment.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.