Ankle decisions — 2011

The Veteran's TDIU rating is granted with an effective date of April 1, 2006. The Board found that the Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities as of April 1, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new VA orthopedic examination.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and limitation of motion is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The right and left knee disabilities are each rated at 10 percent for arthritis and limitation of motion.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as there was no claim for service connection for PTSD prior to October 6, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis was previously denied in a February 1999 rating decision. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim.,The Veteran contends that his current sinusitis is related to his service-connected sleep apnea, which he claims began after surgery in 1993. He also asserts that his left knee disability and right and left ankle disabilities are due to physical stress from his duties on the flight deck.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for left ankle fracture with traumatic arthritis since October 30, 2010. The appeal is dismissed as there was no evidence to support reopening or changing the rating assigned.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal in writing.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee and ankle disorders are not related to his military service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's headache disorder and left ankle disorder are granted as service-connected.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as major depressive disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The right ankle disability was also not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disorder is etiologically related to her active service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board found no evidence of a bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral hip disorder, or neck disorder in service or within one year thereafter. The Veteran's claims for these conditions were denied as they did not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claims of service connection for right pes planus, arthritis of the right ankle, and low back disability. The new evidence received supports a finding that these conditions are related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is for an earlier effective date for a 40 percent evaluation for his service-connected left ankle disorder, and also for TDIU. The case has been remanded to obtain additional evidence and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability is presumed to have been incurred in service, and he is granted a compensable rating. The issues of hearing loss, right ankle disability, and left leg numbness are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for musculoskeletal disorders, including arthritis of the right shoulder, knees, ankles and feet sprains, and neck muscle spasms is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle, hip, and low back disabilities as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus have been denied.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is manifested by pain and swelling after extended standing or walking, but there is no limitation of range of motion. The VA examination did not show any arthritis at the site of the fracture. The Board finds that an initial compensable rating for residuals of a right medial malleolus fracture is denied.

The Veteran's skin rash was not incurred in or aggravated by service.,The Veteran's left knee injury was not incurred in or aggravated by service.