Ankle decisions — 2013

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a left ankle disability. The Board has ordered additional development to obtain relevant medical records and personnel records, as well as SSA disability benefits records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity and degenerative joint disease of the right ankle were denied. The Veteran was not granted any new evaluations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral ankle disorder and right foot disorder are related to service, including his reported experiences in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disorder, migraine headaches, and hypertension have been denied as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

PTSD was rated at 70 percent effective January 19, 2006.,Left ankle disability was rated at 30 percent prior to October 14, 2009 and 70 percent from February 1, 2010 onwards.,Migraine headaches were initially rated at 10 percent before February 12, 2013 and 50 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, and denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin, right ankle and left ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for proper notification under Persian Gulf War service regulations (38 U.S.C.A. � 1117 and 38 C.F.R. � 3.317).

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, right knee, and left lower extremity conditions have been rated as appropriate based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to be of such severity as to preclude substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a recurrent left ankle sprain, finding that it did not have its onset during active service and is not otherwise related to such service. The Board also found that the left ankle condition is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude all substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for left and right foot disorders, as well as hip and ankle disorders are denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's degenerative arthrosis of the left great toe was found to have developed as a result of his service-connected gout disability. The other claims for service connection were either withdrawn or not granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, right hip disability at 10 percent prior to June 23, 2011 and at 40 percent from that date, and low back strain at 40 percent. The current ratings are appropriate based on the degree of limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling an in-person hearing at the Regional Office.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disorder due to an injury sustained during ACDUTRA. However, the Board denied service connection for bilateral knee disorders as they are not shown to be related to any period of active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between his claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's skin problems and arthritis of the knees, ankles, and right elbow are not related to his service-connected syphilis.