Ankle decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to deficiencies in the examination and lack of updated VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral ankle and right hip disabilities are service-connected, with a combined disability rating of 90 percent from April 1, 1999 to September 18, 2000. As his service-connected disabilities precluded employment for which his education and occupational experience would have otherwise qualified him during this period, the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the right ankle, status post subtalar fusion, warrants an initial evaluation of 20 percent.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral knee and ankle disabilities are not related to his military service. The evidence does not show any complaints or treatment for these conditions during service, and there is no medical opinion linking them to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities of arthritis of the bilateral knees and ankles, and a herniated disc of the lumbar spine are not related to his period of active military service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frostbite of both feet, early DJD of the right knee, early DJD of bilateral ankles, and DDD at L5-S1 with spondylosis. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues regarding service connection for a neck disability and bilateral ankle disability, including the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing assistance or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of qualifying disability.

The Board denied service connection for various knee, ankle, and hip disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a direct link between the conditions and active service.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis is manifested by a right maxillary nasal polyp, and the Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 6522.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral leg and ankle disabilities are not related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits were denied. The appeal is mixed as some issues were granted and others were not.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral elbow and ankle disabilities, as well as his claims for bilateral heel spurs, knee arthritis, hand arthritis, and left foot disability. The RO found that these conditions were not incurred in or caused by service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral foot and ankle disability, including pes planus, chronic plantar fasciitis, hammertoes or post-surgical residuals (including scars), numbness of the right foot, and bilateral ankle strain, is at least as likely as not related to her service. Therefore, she is granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic disability manifested by multiple swollen and painful joints (other than of the left shoulder, lumbar spine or right ankle), to include as due to undiagnosed illness. Service connection was also granted for lupus.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of right shoulder dislocation but has not established a current disability related to this condition. The other claims remain pending.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability, left knee disability, and left ankle disability have been granted. The Veteran is now receiving the appropriate ratings for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case to allow the Veteran to have a Travel Board or videoconference hearing, and no further action is required until notified.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed left tibia and left ankle fractures are not related to service, as there is no evidence of such injuries during active duty. The current disability is also not shown to be related to service.