Ankle decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to consider additional symptomatology identified in a February 2013 VA examination report, including shin splints. The RO must evaluate whether a separate rating for this condition is appropriate.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability evaluations for headaches and right ankle tibiotalar degenerative joint disease have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing all appeals currently being considered by VA.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for his right knee and ankle disabilities were denied. The TDIU claim is still pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder is being remanded due to the need to obtain private medical records and updated VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for left knee, left ankle, and left thigh disabilities. The claim of PTSD was reopened based on new evidence showing a diagnosis of PTSD related to military sexual trauma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral ankle disorder and his bilateral knee disorder is not related to service.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 60 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claimed sleeping problems, muscle, bone or joint pain of the ankles, back and knees, short-term memory loss, and gastrointestinal complaints are not service-connected as they have been attributed to known clinical diagnoses. The Board finds no nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, chronic pain disorder; inflammatory arthritis of the right and left knees; and edema of the ankles and legs were denied as these conditions are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to her active duty service.,Specifically, the Board found that there is no evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a DRO hearing. The right ankle disability rating remains at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability, right ankle disability, and hiatal hernia are secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions provided in previous examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, bilateral ankle disabilities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been denied. The Board found no credible evidence linking these conditions to his active service or any service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's ankle/feet, back, neck, left shoulder, stomach/gastrointestinal, and psychiatric disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The kidney disorder was determined to be pre-existing and not aggravated during service.

The Veteran's left elbow disability is not related to his service-connected left knee disability. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hypertension, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, cervical spine disability or bilateral knee disability. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for medical opinions on the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's muscle and joint pain, including whether these conditions are related to his active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ankle, foot, and toe disorders are not etiologically related to his active military service or any disability incurred therein.

The Board found that there is no competent, credible and probative evidence indicating the Veteran has current left knee, ankle, or foot disabilities related to service.

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