Ankle decisions — 2012

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10% rating for residuals of a right foot injury, finding that the appellant did not provide timely notice to the VA regarding his correct address and thus missed notifications about actions taken on his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employability. The case will be returned to the Board after this.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's service records and medical treatment records, as well as to clarify his claims for prostate cancer. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, including the amputation of his foot, is rated at 40 percent since October 23, 2008. The claim for an increased rating prior to that date was denied as there was no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions warranting a higher rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examination and determination of whether his service-connected disabilities result in loss of use of both feet, which would be required for specially adapted housing benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the etiology of any current low back and right ankle disabilities and whether his calluses of the feet were aggravated by military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ankle and left knee disabilities are not related to her service, including ADT in October 1988. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for MRSA due to lack of allegation of specific error. The Veteran's claims for right shoulder, right ankle, and lung disabilities are denied as there is no current diagnosis or symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Veteran does not have a current right ankle, foot, or knee disability. She has been diagnosed with GERD and irritable bowel syndrome which had their onset in service.,Service connection is granted for GERD and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right ankle arthritis has been granted, with the effective date being November 2000.

The Board has vacated its previous decisions and remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right ankle disability, sleep disability, and right knee disability due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left ankle fracture and hepatitis B, as well as his claim for TDIU. The decision concluded that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence to show that any pre-existing conditions were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and medical records. The VA examinations are also scheduled at a location closer to the Veteran's current address in Tennessee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle disability is not related to his service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ankle sprain did not result in residuals and denied service connection for this condition. The Board also determined that hypertension was not directly related to service, but may be aggravated by a service-connected disability (PTSD).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including gathering of outstanding VA treatment records and scheduling of examinations to determine the current severity of her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left hip disability is found to be secondary to his service-connected knee and ankle disabilities. The right ankle disability rating reduction from 20% to 10% was upheld as the VA examination did not reflect sustained material improvement of the right ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to service. The claims will be remanded for such development.