Ankle decisions — 2013

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle, elbow, shoulder, neck, and nerve disabilities. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee, left ankle, left knee, and left foot disabilities did not have onset in service or within one year of discharge. The claims were denied as there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an extension of the temporary total disability rating for post-surgical convalescence beyond February 28, 2008 due to insufficient evidence showing that additional convalescence was necessary.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury, including as secondary to a service-connected right knee/right hip disability. The Board is dismissing the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the current status of his ankle, shoulder, and knee disabilities and whether they are related to service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee and left ankle disorders, as well as to obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the initial ratings for post-traumatic arthritis of the right ankle and chronic left ankle strain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his service-connected low back strain with degenerative disc disease and scoliosis, residuals of right ankle fracture with decreased range of motion and scar, and left thigh meralgia paresthetica.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is granted as incurred in service. The Board found the evidence to be at least in equipoise and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate disorder, left ankle disability, and left knee disability are not service-connected. The VA examiner concluded that the current disabilities of the prostate, left ankle, and left knee were unrelated to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disorder, including endocarditis resulting from an aortic root aneurysm and valve replacement, was not incurred in or aggravated by military service. The claim for left ankle and foot disability is pending.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome. Service connection is granted for a lumbar spine disability, depressive disorder with anxiety, and bilateral ankle, knee, hip, wrist, elbow, and shoulder disabilities due to undiagnosed illness or in-service exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle and tibia fracture are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and determine the appropriate rating.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as the VA examinations did not provide an opinion regarding whether his service-connected disabilities, in concert, render him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right ankle disorder, a bilateral foot disorder, and a back disorder as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle avulsion fracture with degenerative joint disease is rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The right ring finger disability results in a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his pes planus and bilateral ankle condition were aggravated by service or pre-existed service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear at a scheduled hearing. His request for a new videoconference hearing has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected status post fracture of the left foot has been rated at 10 percent since June 21, 2007. The Board found that his symptoms have not been satisfactorily disassociated from the service-connected condition and that they produce a moderately severe disability picture.

The Board found no evidence of a service-connected left ankle/leg, bilateral wrist, or low back disability and denied the Veteran's claims.