Ankle decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been assigned appropriate initial evaluations, with the exception of a higher evaluation for his left ankle sprain after April 11, 2004.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the relationship between his current right ankle disability and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee and right ankle conditions, urinary condition, and stomach condition are related to his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Gulf War. The claims for increased rating have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right hand disability has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, residuals of head injury (including headaches and cervical spine disability), bilateral ankle disability, left eye disability, and cervical spine disability have been reopened. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has been rated at the maximum schedular rating since May 1, 2003. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed low back, left ankle, right ankle, left hip, and right hip disabilities are not service-connected as they did not have their onset during service or are not related to disease, injury, or event of service origin or to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding the issues of service connection for a left hip disability, right hip disability, and right ankle disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability is productive of a moderate limitation of motion, warranting a 10 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and completion of the appropriate forms related to TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete VA examination report and the need for further development regarding his bilateral ankle disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to failure to substantially comply with prior remand instructions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right lower extremity injury residuals, including degenerative joint disease of the right ankle and hip, as well as right foot drop. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current foot and ankle disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining an examination to address whether his service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his claimed low back, bilateral ankle, and bilateral hip disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a left ankle disability during service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran's current left ankle arthritis is not related to his military service. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for recurrent lateral ligamentous sprain of the left and right ankles was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show marked limitation of motion, ankylosis, or malunion of the os calcis or astragalus.,PTSD rating claim was withdrawn by the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent prior to January 18, 2005, and higher than 20 percent thereafter for a lumbar spine disability. Service connection for left and right ankle disorders and left and right leg disorders were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication due to inadequate VA examinations of the Veteran's ankles and feet. The claim will be reconsidered based on additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left ankle disability, including SMC prior to January 10, 2013, was granted. He is now rated at 40 percent under Diagnostic Code 5167 effective from March 18, 2009.