Ankle decisions — 2013

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and right ankle disability, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the pes planus claim and insufficient evidence of a current right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant, as well as automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive automotive equipment only, is being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle strain, myopia, and diabetes mellitus. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for right ankle strain, and that myopia was not shown to have developed due to an injury during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back and left ankle disabilities are not service-connected as they did not begin during or within a year of his period of active duty, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for residuals of a right ankle fracture, including arthritis. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to establish the nature and etiology of his current right ankle disability.

The Board denied service connection for multiple joint disability other than bilateral hips and knees, finding that the Veteran's diagnosed conditions are not due to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illness.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right and left ankle disabilities are not related to his service-connected conditions, specifically his residuals of a left foot laceration. The VA examiner opined that these disabilities were more likely caused by post-service injuries rather than service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's left Achilles tendinitis with secondary left ankle fracture and posttraumatic osteoarthritis has been rated at 20 percent since May 30, 2002. The current rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral ankle and knee disorders on a direct basis, as well as for bilateral leg disorder secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disability.,There is no evidence of chronic bilateral ankle or knee arthritic disorders during service or within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disability other than the fifth metatarsal fracture residuals is being remanded due to incomplete medical opinions and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings and service connection for various conditions were denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The Board found that the current evidence was insufficient to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left ankle disorders, as well as his bilateral foot disorder, have been denied. The AOJ has considered all relevant evidence of record, including the April 2013 VA examination report.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for right elbow epicondylitis. The VA examiner found that the current right elbow disability is at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by a fall during active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including his right knee and ankle disabilities, respiratory disability, tinnitus, and anxiety disorder, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not show continuity of symptomatology for any of these conditions since service.

The Veteran's left ankle disability was manifested by pain and marked limitation of motion, necessitating ankle arthrodesis for the period from July 31, 2007 through April 3, 2008. The Board finds a 20 percent rating is warranted based on 'marked' limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle disability, psychiatric disability (adjustment disorder with mixed depression and anxiety), bilateral hip disability, cervical spine disability, and bilateral knee disability have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active duty service or secondary to his service-connected low back sprain.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle/heel disorder and bilateral pes planus, finding that these conditions are the result of disease or injury incurred in active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a residual scar above the right ankle. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded due to incomplete VA examination reports.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the issue of service connection for a left ankle disorder can be decided.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 was denied as he did not meet the eligibility requirements.