Ankle decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and inadequate examination for service connection claims. Additional development is needed, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals have been resolved by the RO, and he has received staged ratings for his disabilities. As a result, there are no remaining issues to be decided.

The Board found that the Veteran's residuals of a right ankle fracture, manifested by recurring pain and full range of motion with no additional limitations due to pain or other factors, warranted a 10 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 4.59.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities, including left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, left ankle degenerative arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, and impingement syndrome of the left shoulder. The issues on appeal are for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for these conditions.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the service-connected left ankle disability, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was withdrawn, and the left ankle disability is rated at 20% prior to April 27, 2011, but not more than 10% beginning from that date.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the feet, ankles, hands, and wrists is found to be related to his presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee and ankle disability, finding that all elements of the claim are met, including continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased initial ratings for her right wrist, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of neurological impairment in the right wrist or a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis in either ankle. The current disability ratings assigned under Diagnostic Codes 5215-8515 and 5271 are found to be appropriate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his service, and therefore denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disorder and left eardrum disorder have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions. The claims for service connection for left shoulder, left knee, and right knee disorders are pending due to the need for further clarification from VA medical examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities and arthritis of the left ankle did not have their onset during active military service, nor were they related to any incident in service. The appeal was denied as there is no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that further development of the evidence is needed before a decision can be made on the Veteran's claims for higher evaluation for right ankle posterior tibial tendonitis and service connection for left ankle tendonitis with degenerative joint disease as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disorder is related to his active service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right ankle strains warrant a 20 percent initial disability rating each, effective from March 1976 (the date of his active duty service), as they are manifested by marked limitation of motion.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ankle and left knee disabilities are service-connected, with the right ankle disability being granted. The low back disability was not service-connected but the claim for secondary service connection was granted.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and right ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for prostate disability and right ankle rash are also resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and conducting spine and neurological examinations.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of entitlement to an initial evaluation for status post right fibula fracture, ankle, beyond 10 percent; entitlement to an initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids; and entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral tinea unguium of the feet. As a result, these claims are dismissed.