Ankle decisions — 2012

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, a skin disorder of the feet and ankles (including jungle rot), chloracne, dizziness, asthma, and residuals of a right ring finger injury have all been granted. The effective date is to be determined based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection, evaluations for various conditions, and effective dates. The specific details of each issue are not provided.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including heel sprains, knee arthritis, ankle sprains, and low back disorder. The RO has assigned initial evaluations for these conditions, but the Veteran is seeking higher ratings.

The Veteran's appeal for automobile and adaptive equipment or a special home adaptation grant is granted. The claim for a special home adaptation grant is moot due to the RO's December 2011 grant of specially adapted housing.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine and right ankle disabilities, but denied reopening on the merits as new evidence does not establish a direct link to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his left ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records from his past care providers.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and SSA disability determination records. A VA examination of the right ankle will also be scheduled.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed low back, bilateral knee, bilateral ankle, right foot, and bilateral hip disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with triple arthrodesis of the left foot is currently rated at 50 percent, effective from January 14, 2011. His left ankle degenerative joint disease (s/p talo-navicular joint arthrodesis) has not been separately evaluated.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral flat feet pre-existed service and were not aggravated by service. The bilateral ankle disability was not manifest in service or related to his service-connected knee disability.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for right shoulder, left knee, and left ankle disabilities was denied. The Board found that the Veteran had a history of left ankle strain/sprain during his military service but no current diagnosis or continuity of symptomatology for right shoulder or left knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a left ankle disability. The claim for service connection of a low back disability is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining all outstanding records and readjudicating the claim in light of new evidence.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling under DC 5271, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a chronic left ankle disorder, to include degenerative joint disease, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the etiology of his claimed left ankle and bilateral hip disabilities, including as secondary to a service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the December 2010 VA medical examination report.,Additional evidence is needed, including treatment records from Maryview Hospital and OPM disability determinations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA joints examination to determine if the Veteran's current left knee, right knee, and right ankle disorders are related to his service-connected postoperative hammertoe disorders.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, characterized by osteoarthritis and chronic tears of the ligaments, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence.