Ankle decisions — 2011

The Board denied entitlement to an extraschedular evaluation for right knee arthritis and found that the available schedular evaluations adequately described his disability level. The issue of service connection for a right ankle disorder is pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of left ankle disability and service connection for hyperlipidemia (elevated cholesterol) were denied as the conditions are not considered disabilities for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's original claim for service connection was received on September 16, 2002, before his discharge from service. Therefore, an effective date of October 1, 2002, is granted for the grant of service connection for multiple disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO in St. Petersburg, Florida and the issuance of an SOC on the issue of entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities of the bilateral knees and ankles were not incurred or aggravated by service, either on a direct basis or due to any presumptive conditions. The VA examiner found no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient VA examination and lack of private treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disorders are being reviewed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle and left knee disabilities due to new evidence provided by private medical records. The claim is granted as there is now a reasonable possibility that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected peroneal tendonitis of the right ankle with chronic instability and a chronic lateral complex tear.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Rosai Dorman disease with destruction of the left elbow and bilateral ankle disability were denied as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle disability is a residual of in-service injuries and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to her inability to be contacted, and the case will be further reviewed after obtaining updated information.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's right ankle disability rating from 20 percent to 10 percent was not proper and restored the original 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an increased rating for the left ankle disability are granted. The Board finds that the Veteran is likely as not to have injured his left thumb in service, leading to current post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle sprain residuals are due to an injury sustained during his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a right tibia and fibula fracture with degenerative changes of the right ankle are currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum evaluation authorized under Diagnostic Code 5262. The duodenal ulcer has been assigned a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for ankle and foot disorders, as well as an increased rating for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of his medical history.

The Veteran's right leg disorder is not related to his service-connected condition.,However, the Veteran has a current diagnosis of degenerative arthritis of the right ankle that is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected status post excision, osteochondroma, left distal fibula.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have tendonitis of the shoulders, right wrist, knees, and ankles during service or within one year after separation. The current diagnoses are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including evaluations for various joint conditions and a request for TDIU. The case is being remanded due to the Veteran requesting a personal appearance before the Board.