Ankle decisions — 2011

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle strain, osteoarthritis of the left hip, and low back condition. However, effective dates prior to the dates of the original claims have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic right ankle sprain is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating as his disability has resulted in no more than moderate functional impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of stressor events and obtaining VA treatment records. He also needs to undergo examinations for his claimed psychiatric disability, headaches, hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder, stress fractures of the ankles, and stress fractures of the feet.

The Board found that the Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen his August 1982 RO administrative decision, which held that injuries incurred in a December 7, 1980 motorcycle accident were not incurred in line of duty. The Board also determined that there is no direct link between the Veteran's current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, with erectile dysfunction is currently evaluated at 20 percent. The left ankle sprain with a history of gout warrants a 10 percent evaluation. Both right knee and left knee degenerative joint disease are each rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any diagnosis or treatment for sand flea bites. The most recent VA examination found no current residuals of sand flea bites.,There is no evidence of active cellulitis of the left ankle during service, and post-service VA examinations have consistently shown only a history of cellulitis with plantar dyshidrosis.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right ankle and right foot disabilities are being remanded to obtain additional medical records, conduct further VA examinations, and consider the evidence in its entirety.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection based on continuity of symptomatology since service. The other claims were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated as 60 percent disabling since March 24, 2010.,Prior to March 24, 2010, the Veteran's thoracic and lumbar spine disabilities are each rated as 10 percent disabling. Since March 24, 2010, her lumbar spine disability is rated as 40 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral ankle disability, characterized as chronic laxity with mild functional limitation, is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied entitlement to an initial compensable rating for right tympanic membrane perforation with hearing loss and denied service connection for arthritis of the fingers, neck, ankles, and knees. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, ankle, foot, lumbar spine, and bilateral toes disorders are pending. The Veteran has been granted service connection for a scar of the right leg. His claims for service connection for tendinitis and/or gout of the left wrist and right wrist have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues except migraine headaches has been withdrawn. The Board grants service connection for migraine headaches.,The Veteran reported experiencing headaches since childhood, but her current diagnosis is of a chronic condition that began in service and resolved with pregnancy.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder, knee, and ankle disabilities are being remanded to allow for additional examination and development of the record.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and further evidentiary review.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a right ankle disability and an increased rating for her right flatfoot with hammertoe, bunions and hallux valgus deformity. The VA has not adequately addressed the secondary service connection claim or provided a new examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected foot disability.

The Veteran's initial claims for higher evaluations were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of entitlement to any higher ratings.,Service connection was established, but no higher initial evaluations could be granted as the evidence did not meet the criteria for such.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed disorder of the bilateral ankles. The claim for service connection for bilateral ankle arthritis is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not related to service or a service-connected condition, and his left ankle disability did not worsen during service. Therefore, both conditions are denied.