Ankle decisions — 2013

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

The Veteran does not have a current right ankle disability, and the Board denies service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's posttraumatic degenerative arthritis of the right ankle status post Dwyer calcaneal osteotomy has been rated at 20 percent since November 1, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if an extraschedular rating is warranted for the Veteran's left ankle disorder, as his disability picture presents such an exceptional disability picture that the available schedular evaluation may be inadequate.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining updated medical evidence and a VA examination to assess the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral leg, knee, ankle, and back disorders, as well as hypertension. The denial is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ankle disorder did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty. Degenerative arthritis of the right ankle was also not exhibited within the first post-service year.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, reflecting moderate limitation of motion. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's current right ankle edema is related to his active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle injury and arthritis, as well as his right hip condition, are not service connected. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service or secondary to service-connected right knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder is being remanded due to the need for clarification and consideration of the possibility of aggravation of a preexisting disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left ankle disability is not related to his service, specifically the in-service left ankle condition in 1983. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran has any current left ankle disability caused by his service.

The Veteran's left ankle arthritis is rated at 20 percent, and his bilateral knee disorders are not service-connected. The lumbosacral spine disorder was also found to be directly related to the service-connected left ankle arthritis.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability, characterized as degenerative joint disease, is rated at 20 percent since February 1, 2013.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle disability, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, depression, and dysthymic disorder). The appeals were not successful as new and material evidence was not provided to reopen these claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current right ankle disorder that is related to his military service. The preponderance of evidence shows no chronic disability and no link between any current condition and service.

The Board has restored a 30% disability rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis and denied an increased evaluation. The Veteran's service-connected foot condition did not show sustained improvement, warranting the reduction of her disability rating.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left ankle condition requires additional development and a VA examination.

The Board finds that there is no evidence of a current right or left ankle disability causally related to, or aggravated by, active service. The Veteran's STRs do not document any chronic ankle disabilities and the medical evidence does not support a finding of such.