Ankle decisions — 2012

The Board has granted an increased disability rating of 20 percent for the service-connected right ankle disability, effective from September 6, 2006.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral calcaneal spurs of ankles, arthritis of hands, arthritis of feet, and degenerative joint disease of left knee. The other issues were not addressed due to lack of evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for traumatic arthritis of the right ankle and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with sciatica, effectively granting all benefits sought.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, left ankle disability (arthritis), and recurrent kidney stones are all found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability, including arthritis. The case will be remanded for obtaining relevant medical records and inpatient treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as he failed to appear at the scheduled VA examination and did not provide good cause.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim will be deferred until after the examination results are available.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for consideration of an extraschedular rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that the evidence did not establish a link between the condition and active service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development to determine the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities on his employability, as well as for updated information regarding his employment history.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an orthopedic examination to assess the severity of her service-connected ankle disability.

The Veteran's service-connected left foot and left ankle disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, effective from the date of the August 2005 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of left ankle fracture, status post ORIF is being remanded due to the need for further development including verification of his periods of active and inactive duty training in the Navy Reserves and Merchant Marines, obtaining SSA disability records, and scheduling a VA examination.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the appellant's periods of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) and/or Inactive Duty for Training (INACDUTRA), specifically when any knee or right ankle injuries occurred. The case is REMANDED for these purposes.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's headaches to his service or a service-connected condition.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity swelling was not considered a disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's pes planus with hallux abductus and arthritis of the talonavicular joints were rated at 30 percent each, effective November 10, 2001. The separate rating for arthritis was also granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ankle and bilateral knee osteoarthritis were not incurred or aggravated during his National Guard service, and thus denied the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability before May 7, 2004 was denied as there is no credible evidence showing he could not secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a left ankle disorder and thus, service connection cannot be granted.