Ankle decisions — 2012

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability, gastrointestinal disease, lung disease, and hemorrhoids.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, low back, and bilateral ankle disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability due to lack of evidence showing onset during or as a result of service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a right ankle fracture and degenerative joint disease are service-connected, as they are at least as likely as not caused by an in-service injury.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and higher initial disability ratings for chronic left foot and ankle strain, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, herniated lumbar disc with radiculopathy, and degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, left ankle disability, and urinary/bowel incontinence. The Veteran's sinusitis and pes cavus are not directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a video conference hearing at the St. Paul, Minnesota RO for further consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle and shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA examination reports.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service connection and increased rating claims, including obtaining medical records from Dr. Goldberg and Dr. Pleitez.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not shown in service or within the first post-service year, and have not been linked to a disease or injury of service origin. Service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause his death, as his primary causes of death were an acute stroke and aspiration pneumonia.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric, right ankle, and lumbar spine disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since April 4, 1990.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current musculoskeletal disabilities, including left foot disability, low back disability, neck disability, left leg disability (including radiculopathy), left ankle disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral elbow disability, and bilateral hand disability are related to a motor vehicle accident during service. As such, these conditions have been granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including a headache, hearing loss, neck disability, low back disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and eye disability, were denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or relationship to service for most conditions, except for hepatitis C which was granted up to 30 percent prior to October 26, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ankle disability or left ankle disability that is service-connected.,There is no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is productive of no more than moderate limitation of motion, without additional limitation after repetitive motion due to pain, weakness, excess fatigability, or incoordination. The criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability, as well as his bilateral ankle, left hip, low back, and left shoulder disabilities. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, residual scar of the right hand, allergic rhinitis, and seborrheic dermatitis were all rated at 10 percent. The left ankle disorder was not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, vision impairment, and neurological disorders. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the appellant withdrew their appeal through their authorized representative.