Ankle decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and issuing a Statement of the Case on the right ankle disability. The issues of service connection for right hip and knee disabilities are also inextricably intertwined with the right ankle claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various orthopedic disabilities, finding that they were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered together, meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for multi-joint/bone pain is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, verify his Gulf War Service, and schedule a VA examination to determine the etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for post-concussion syndrome, bilateral arm disabilities, and bilateral ankle disabilities are denied. His service connection claim for a thoracolumbar spine compression fracture is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional information regarding his in-service stressors and to ensure all relevant records are associated with the claims file. The case will be reviewed by the RO/AMC on the basis of this additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for joint pain as due to undiagnosed illness is being remanded for additional development, including an examination and review of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right ankle shrapnel wound was denied as the disability is only productive of moderate limitation of motion, not marked.

The VA determined that there is no current left ankle disability and insufficient evidence to establish a link between any past injury or symptoms in service and the Veteran's current condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including another VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current ankle and elbow disabilities are related to his active service. The Veteran contends that his joint pain is due to an undiagnosed illness or a chronic multisymptom illness, but there is no evidence of such in the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral ankle disorders, lumbar spine disorder, and shoulder disorders. The disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's current 20 percent rating for right ankle fracture, status post open reduction and internal fixation is denied as his symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current condition.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the issues of service connection for sinusitis, bilateral ankle sprain and thoracolumbar spine strain.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and left ankle disabilities, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service. However, the Board denied service connection for left ankle disabilities of the talus and cuneiform bones, attributing them to a post-service injury.

The Board finds that further development is needed for the issues of entitlement to service connection for left ankle pain and bilateral heel spurs due to potential need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues have been dismissed due to lack of active claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to missing STRs, inadequate VA examinations, and the need to obtain workers' compensation records.

The Veteran's residuals of a fracture of the left 5th metatarsal and left ankle pain are currently rated at 10 percent, which is the minimum rating under Diagnostic Codes 5271 (moderate limitation of motion of the ankle) and 5284 (moderate foot injury). The criteria for higher ratings have not been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a video teleconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues are whether he should receive a higher rating for his left ankle arthritis and if he can get service connection for his hip degenerative joint disease as secondary to his ankle condition.