Ankle decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records. The issue of an increased rating for residuals of a right ankle fracture remains under review.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's foot, ankle, and toe disabilities as well as whether she incurred any additional disabilities from VA dental treatment. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder, left ankle sprain residuals, and low back strain disabilities have been granted initial evaluations. The right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, the left ankle sprain residuals are rated at 10 percent, and the low back strain is rated as non-compensable.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence submitted without a waiver of RO consideration, and the Veteran requested that his appeal be remanded for RO consideration in the first instance.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ankle and pericarditis are being remanded due to the need for proper VCAA notice, additional medical records, and a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and medical examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected knee, ankle, low back, and left shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus, status-post stress fracture, left foot (including claims for left ankle inversion and sprain), and mechanical low back pain with degenerative changes at L5-S1.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee or right ankle disorder during service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection as there was insufficient continuity of symptoms to establish a current disability related to his military service.

The Veteran had continuous symptoms of erectile dysfunction beginning during or shortly after service, and this condition is presumed to be related to exposure to toxic solvents.,The Veteran began experiencing weakness in the ankles and legs during or shortly after service, and this condition is presumed to be related to exposure to toxic solvents.,The Veteran had edema of the legs that is presumed to be related to exposure to toxic solvents.,Service connection for a lung disorder was denied in 1948 but new evidence received prior to the Veteran's death raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The Veteran began experiencing symptoms of BPH during service and this condition is presumed to be related to exposure to toxic solvents.,The Veteran had depression with related stress and anxiety, which is presumed to be related to service, including combat experiences.,The Veteran had chronic dry skin on the hands that is presumed to be related to exposure to toxic solvents or service-connected chronic renal failure.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral ankle disorder did not exist prior to his second period of active duty service and was not aggravated by such service. The disability is considered a direct result of his active duty.

The Board found no evidence of a pre-existing condition for the claimed disabilities and concluded that they were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee, hip, ankle, and back disorders. The evidence did not establish a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle, great toe degenerative joint disease, and nerve damage to the right foot disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed low back, bilateral foot, cervical spine arthralgias, and right ankle disorders are not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology or a nexus between current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no competent credible evidence of a current disability or causally related to active service. The Veteran was not found to have a bilateral ankle disability, lower back disability, or hypertension secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew her claims for higher initial evaluations for scalp psoriasis and residuals of a left foot bunionectomy with degenerative changes, also claimed as nerve damage at her August 2010 hearing. The Board does not have jurisdiction over these withdrawn claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current lumbar spine disability related to service, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as it is manifested by no more than mild limitation of motion.

The Board granted service connection for shin splints and assigned a noncompensable evaluation effective September 1, 2005. The Veteran's cluster headaches, migrainous in nature, are currently rated as 10 percent disabling.