Ankle decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need to consider newly service-connected radiation colitis and additional evidence received since the last SSOC.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder and left shoulder disorders, right ankle disorder, urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and loss of use of a creative organ. The decision also addressed his claim for an increased rating for his service-connected dorsolumbar paravertebral myositis.

The Veteran's TDIU rating was granted effective November 1, 2002. The Board previously remanded the case to determine if his service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable prior to this date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, right knee instability, and right knee painful motion was denied. The RO also did not assign a compensable rating for right knee limitation of motion prior to May 25, 2011, or grant a greater than 10 percent rating from that date.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, characterized by marked limitation of motion, is now rated at 20 percent under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right ankle, knee, and hip disabilities are being remanded due to the need for further development including a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his current level of disability related to his service-connected left ankle sprain.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot/ankle disorder other than tinea pedis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an examination to determine the relationship of his current foot and ankle disorders to active duty.

The Veteran's right ankle degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 10 percent, effective September 1, 2008.,The Veteran's left ankle degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 10 percent, effective September 1, 2008.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current right knee and/or right ankle disorders are related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current left ankle disability and thus the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability is denied.

The Veteran's claimed memory loss and myalgias/arthralgias were not found to be related to his military service, including exposure to the Persian Gulf War environment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination regarding his right ankle disorder and because of the inextricably intertwined nature with his claim for TDIU. The issues will be adjudicated together.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and providing a VA examination.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disability rating is 100%, but he does not have a single permanent disability rated at 100%. Therefore, he lacks legal ground to establish special monthly compensation based on housebound status.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Naval Reserve treatment records and scheduling an orthopedic examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection of right knee, left knee, and left ankle disabilities. The June 2003 rating decision denying these claims is considered final.