Ankle decisions — 2013

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right ankle and foot disabilities are not related to his military service. The earliest post-service clinical evidence of these conditions is more than a decade after separation from service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral foot disability is the same as his service-connected right ankle tendinitis with calcaneal spur and recurrent left ankle sprains with left leg neuritis and calcaneal spur, thus denying the claim for a separate rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to report for a scheduled videoconference hearing. He has requested another opportunity to present testimony before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records and a VA opinion on his ability to work.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including searching for relevant unit records and providing a VA examination to determine if his current foot, ankle, and lower leg disorders are related to cold weather exposure in Korea during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from the examiner who conducted the April 2012 examination.

The Board found no evidence of a right ankle disability due to service and denied the claim for PFB as there was not enough evidence to show that it is related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a right ankle and/or leg disability caused or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of the left ankle, right knee, or left knee. The Board also found that any such disabilities are not related to active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his right ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and assessments of his current disabilities, including lumbar spine, bilateral shoulder, left ankle, bilateral knee, and sleep apnea.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as sleep apnea. However, these claims are still pending as further development is needed to determine if service connection should be granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has degenerative joint disease of his bilateral feet and ankles. The claims will be adjudicated again based on the additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities is being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence, including Social Security Administration records and a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sexual dysfunction, headaches, fatigue, back pain, bilateral hip disabilities, knee disabilities, shoulder disabilities, elbow disabilities, and left ankle disability. The appeals were reopened on new evidence but the claims were ultimately denied.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to August 29, 2006 is being remanded due to incomplete development and the need for an additional VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, fracture of the right ankle, and burns. The appeal is currently pending with further development required.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is related to a service-connected disability, and the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder has been granted.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of residuals of a right ankle injury, to include a right ankle sprain, should be January 31, 2007.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and requesting an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle disability.