Ankle decisions — 2012

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and his left heel plantar fasciitis is rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that the current schedular evaluations adequately reflect the severity of these disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle disability was incurred as a result of an injury sustained during reserve training, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities related to his military service, and thus denied all of his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for specially adapted housing has been remanded due to inadequate VCAA notice and the need for further development of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and ankle disabilities are service-connected as they were incurred during his active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), examination to determine the likely etiology of his low back disorder, and scheduling a personal hearing.

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 right ankle disability and its impact on employment.

The Veteran's ligament reconstruction, right ankle disability is currently rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 5270 for ankylosis of the ankle. The evidence shows limited motion in dorsiflexion between 0 degrees and 10 degrees, which most closely approximates ankylosis as defined by Diagnostic Code 5270.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle injury, which resulted from a fall due to his service-connected left knee disability, is secondary to his service-connected condition and therefore service connection for these residuals is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of left ankle and left heel surgeries, finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for a left ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for increased initial ratings for lumbosacral degenerative disc and joint disease (exceeding 20 percent) and left ankle degenerative joint disease (noncompensable).

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and is dismissed as the Veteran has opted to discharge these issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's avascular necrosis of the left ankle, status post fusion is not related to her military service and denied her claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and posttraumatic arthritis of the left ankle were denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent for his bilateral hearing loss prior to June 20, 2011 or since June 20, 2011. He is also not entitled to an increased rating for posttraumatic arthritis of the left ankle.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral ankle disability based on new and material evidence. The case is now remanded to obtain an examination and opinion regarding the nature, etiology, and likely cause of his ankle disabilities.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against finding that the Veteran has current disabilities of the ears, nose, or left ankle that are related to his military service. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right leg and knee disabilities, left leg and knee disabilities, and left ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, bilateral leg, and low back disabilities. The evidence did not establish a current disability or link to service.

The Veteran's degenerative changes of the left ankle status-post fracture and surgery with internal fixation have been rated at 20 percent since January 1, 2008. The disability is currently productive of marked limitation of motion but not ankylosis.