Ankle decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing him with a VA examination to determine if his current eye disorder and swelling of legs, feet, and ankles are related to his military service or any incident therein.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee degenerative changes and right ankle degenerative changes, finding that the current conditions are likely due to injuries sustained during active service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left ankle strain had its onset in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing service treatment records and incomplete information.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The conditions claimed are currently rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected reflex sympathetic dystrophy, residuals of left ankle injury, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and left ankle disorder are not related to his military service, thus denying service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal of the claims seeking higher initial ratings for PTSD and disabilities of the low back, left knee, right ankle, and right wrist.

The Veteran's appeal of the May 2005 rating decision was found to be timely, and as a result, all underlying claims for service connection are now considered granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his SSA award letter and employment history information. A VA examination will be scheduled to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new examination is needed to clarify whether the Veteran's ankle symptoms are secondary or aggravated by his service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's left ankle synovitis, status-post ganglion cyst removal, is not productive of marked limitation of motion and therefore does not warrant an evaluation in excess of the current 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypercholesterolemia, right hip disability, left hip disability, neuropsychiatric condition (depression), cervical spine disability, bilateral neuropathy and radiculopathy of the lower extremities, degenerative joint disease of the knees, bulging disc and herniation, degenerative changes of the ankles, and thoracic paravertebral myositis were denied. The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is pending. The Board notes that the issue of service connection for a left ankle disability was denied, and his claim to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for bipolar disorder has been granted with an effective date of February 19, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability, including fractures of the distal tibia and fibula, is rated at 30 percent. The Board has determined that a 40 percent rating is warranted based on ankylosis with fixation in eversion or abduction.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle strain is related to his in-service injury, and service connection for residuals of a left Achilles tendon strain is granted.

The Veteran's appeal involves a request for an increased rating for her service-connected left foot and ankle disability. The case is being remanded to provide clarification on the range of motion, clarify whether she has hallux valgus, and determine which symptoms are due to her service-connected injury.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining medical records. The issues include a claim for an increased evaluation for left ankle disability, service connection claims for left knee injury and migraine headaches, and potential entitlement to benefits under the Veterans' Benefits Act of 1974 (PACT) due to exposure to burn pits.

The Veteran's claimed muscle aches and joint pain are diagnosed as bilateral knee and right ankle arthralgia/strain, which is not due to an undiagnosed illness or other disease incurred in service. The Board finds that the current condition is not related to active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine the current severity of her claimed conditions.