Ankle decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of a right ankle twisting ligament injury was denied as the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Board found no current diagnoses of a right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, or right knee disorder at any time during the pendency of the appeal.,For the left knee disorder, the Board did not find credible evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, lumbosacral strain, and left ankle strain are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence including VA treatment records and SSA disability determination.

The Veteran's right knee disability is found to be service-connected. The claim for joint pain, including left knee and left ankle pain, was not fully adjudicated as it pertains to secondary service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left ankle disability, including arthritis, is not related to his in-service injury and denied service connection.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and records in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and requests for additional information from various sources. The Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and Social Security Administration disability benefits records. The case will be readjudicated after the development is completed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle and right knee disabilities did not manifest during or as a result of active military service, nor were they caused by or permanently aggravated by his service-connected neuritis of the saphenous nerve of the right lower extremity. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claims for breathing problems and bilateral ankle and knee pain (claimed as arthritis) due to his failure to report for VA examinations scheduled in compliance with the December 2009 remand instructions.,There is no evidence of a current disability, nor any link between the claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of the new evidence received.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted an initial 10 percent rating effective March 11, 2009. Service connection for a left ankle disability was also granted but the appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder injury and right ankle injury. The Veteran is now entitled to a full merits review of these claims.

The Board denied claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as right ankle and right knee disorders. The Veteran's applications to reopen these claims were not successful.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hand disorder, to include carpal bossing. The initial compensable rating claim for the service-connected right ankle disability remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disorder as secondary to the Veteran's left ankle disorder and denied an increased rating for his left ankle disability. The Board found that there was no credible evidence linking the right ankle fracture to service or aggravating the left ankle disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, and degenerative joint diseases of the left ankle, right knee, and lumbar spine, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his physical limitations.

The Veteran's appeal is for a higher initial rating for his left ankle sprain prior to March 14, 2005 and since that date. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining a final version of the September 2005 VA examination report.

The Veteran's left ankle disorder is characterized by moderate limitation of motion, and his peptic ulcer with hiatal hernia experiences continuous moderate manifestations. The Board has granted a rating of 10 percent for the left ankle disorder and a rating of 20 percent for the peptic ulcer disease.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for additional development to assess the severity of his service-connected right ankle disability and determine if he should receive a higher evaluation.