Ankle decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to address his claims of service connection for left shoulder disability, right ankle disability, and headaches.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not combine to 100 percent, nor is he over the age of 65 or deemed disabled by SSA. The medical evidence does not show that the Veteran is permanently and totally disabled.

The Board denied all claims, including those related to service connection for various conditions and the reopening of a previously denied skin disability claim. The appellant's erectile dysfunction was not granted an initial compensable rating or earlier effective date.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities as secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine disability. The prior denials remain final.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals at the RO.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ankle disability, including arthritis, was not incurred in service and is not related to his service-connected right and left knee disabilities. Therefore, the claim for secondary service connection was denied.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for his service-connected right and left ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of any current bilateral foot disability(ies), as well as whether any such disabilities are related to service-connected cervical spine, low back, and/or hip disabilities.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of any current ankle disorder and carpal tunnel syndrome, including whether these conditions are related to service. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be remanded for additional examinations.

The Veteran's initial ratings for the residuals of a left ankle fracture and an injury to his left pectoralis muscle were granted, with the left ankle receiving a 20 percent rating from February 19, 2008. The left pectoralis muscle received a noncompensable (0%) rating as analogous to myositis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity and manifestations of his service-connected knees and bilateral ankle and feet disabilities. The examiner should also address whether any current bilateral ankle and foot disabilities are causally or etiologically related to parachute jump landings during military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for joint pain, muscle fatigue, headaches, skin rash, and problems taking deep breaths, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and did not find a presumption of service connection due to exposure. The right knee and ankle disorders were not shown to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's right knee injury has been rated as 10% disabling since October 21, 2006, with no evidence showing it warrants a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including VA examinations to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for his right ankle injury, skin disorder, and headaches.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at his local RO.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of the claims for increased ratings for his service connected back and left ankle disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's service, and denied his claims for residuals of a hamstring injury and left ankle disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected low back strain, joint pain due to an undiagnosed illness affecting the right ankle, left hip, and both shoulders, and sinusitis with headaches and blurred vision are all rated at their maximum disability levels of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has a current left ankle disability related to service. The claims will be readjudicated following these actions.