Ankle decisions — 2012

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus. The claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee chondromalacia remains denied.

The Board granted service connection for patellofemoral syndrome of the right and left knees, as well as bilateral varicose veins. Service connection was denied for a right ankle disability, varicose veins of the lower extremities (except for the knees), and a left hand disability.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed disabilities of the knees, ankles, shoulders and hands as they are not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a fracture of the right proximal fibula and distal tibia with traumatic arthritis, and limitation of motion of the right ankle were denied as there is no evidence of service connection issues related to exposure or other presumptions.

The Veteran's service-connected gunshot wound of the left foot and ankle with traumatic arthritis and scars, as well as his left knee disability, are rated at 30 percent. The Board granted these ratings.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the Veteran's left ankle disability, and additional service treatment records are requested. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 18, 2007 for a grant of a 10 percent evaluation for service-connected left ankle osteochondritis dissecans was denied. The Board found that no new and material evidence had been submitted within the one-year period preceding the date of the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disorders, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development and adjudication of his service connection claims for major depressive disorder, hypertension, carotid artery constriction, and left leg and ankle disabilities. The case will be readjudicated after these issues are resolved.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the unavailability of his service treatment records and need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's left ankle disability was found to be manifested by subjective complaints of pain, stiffness, instability, and weakness with marked limitation of motion but without ankylosis. The current rating of 20 percent is maintained prior to July 12, 2012.

The Board found no evidence linking the current bilateral ankle disability to service, and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a right ankle injury in service or for many years thereafter. The current right ankle disability is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to a change in the hearing officer and the Veteran's request for a video conference hearing.

The Veteran's pes planus of the right foot with valgus deformity and calcaneonavicular coalition was found to have been aggravated by service, warranting service connection.,Service connection for posterior tendon dysfunction of the right foot was granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder, including as residual of a right ankle strain/sprain, is being remanded due to the need for another Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective from August 4, 2010. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating for this period.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is causally related to his military service. However, the Veteran's flat feet and bilateral ankle disability were not found to be service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not contribute to his death from cardiac arrest and diabetes. The Board found that PTSD was not the cause of death, but rather a contributing factor.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion from the VA examiner regarding the etiology of his low back disorder and providing him an opportunity to review his claims files.