Ankle decisions — 2012

The Board has found that the Veteran's right ankle disability is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition. The left hand disability claim was not addressed as it was not part of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle and knee disabilities will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's right and left ankle sprains are currently rated as noncompensable (0%) due to moderate limitation of motion. The appeal is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied the remaining issues on appeal. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left foot disability, but has not addressed his claim for a secondary left ankle disability. The case is therefore remanded to obtain an examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current left ankle disability is related to or aggravated by his now service-connected left foot disability.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 100%, which meets the criteria for a TDIU rating. The evidence shows that his service-connected conditions have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's TDIU rating was granted effective January 14, 2009. The Board denied an earlier effective date.

The Board found no evidence of a low back or right ankle disability that manifested in service, or within one year thereafter, and determined that the Veteran's current conditions are not causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear at a scheduled hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after scheduling a new hearing.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease, was initially rated at 10 percent prior to March 8, 2012. Effective March 8, 2012, the disability is rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for degenerative discogenic disease at L4-5 and L5-S1 with retrolisthesis of L4-5 is denied as the criteria for a higher evaluation have not been met. The other issues are also denied.

The Board found no evidence of a current left ankle disability and concluded that any left ankle injury in service did not cause the Veteran's current condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining X-rays and scheduling a VA examination to address the appellant's right ankle disorders.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn in its entirety by the representative prior to any decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a video-conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder tendonitis, left knee sprain, and bilateral ankle disabilities have been denied as there is no current disability found in her medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury and for residuals of frostbite to the extremities are being remanded due to incomplete records, need for medical examination, and additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran does not currently suffer from a diagnosed bilateral knee disorder and thus, service connection for this condition cannot be granted. The appeal is denied.

The Board granted increased evaluations for osteoarthritis of the left and right knees, as well as right hand and ankle conditions. The appellant was also awarded a TDIU.