Ankle decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Board hearing. The specific conditions and service connection claims remain pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for reopening his previously denied claim of service connection for arthritis of the left ankle and for an increased rating for traumatic arthritis of the left knee. The Veteran was not granted any benefits.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, status-post fracture, has been rated at 20 percent since March 24, 2010. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition based on limitation of motion and pain.

The Board has reopened the claim and remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the etiology of the claimed right ankle disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence submitted since December 1989. However, the Board found that there is no nexus between the current left ankle disorder and his military service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 20 percent effective April 7, 2009 for frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion into the joint. The Veteran's left ankle disability has been manifested by moderate limitation of motion throughout the appeal period. The Veteran's service-connected headaches are currently rated at 30 percent.,The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for his left knee or left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left ankle muscle sprains was denied as the evidence did not show ankylosis of the ankle in plantar flexion at more than 40 degrees or in dorsiflexion at more than 10 degrees. The TDIU claim was also denied due to the Veteran's combined disability rating and his ability to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate opinions from the VA examiner and the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's current knee and ankle conditions were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed knee and ankle disorders are not related to his active service, as there is no medical evidence showing such conditions during or immediately following service. The VA examiner opined that the current disabilities were less likely due to military service.

The Veteran's appeals for the denial of service connection for a right ankle disability, left shoulder disability, and increased ratings for right knee instability and arthritis have been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but his left ankle condition and PTSD are not. The Veteran was provided with a VA examination for PTSD in August 2011, which found no current diagnosis of an ankle condition or PTSD disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the ankles and granted it as secondary to his service-connected arthritis of the toes. The decision is based on evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, including medical opinions linking the ankle condition to the service-connected toe condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with MDD and tinnitus, but the other issues remain denied. The Veteran's claim of new and material evidence to reopen his bilateral leg disability including leg cramps is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left ankle and foot osteoarthritis and left heel spur.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective March 7, 2014. The Board denied an increased rating for the condition.,Prior to March 7, 2014, a compensable rating was not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have service connection for headaches, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bilateral leg neuropathy, a left ankle disability, hearing loss, or tinnitus due to his service. The evidence does not support these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to his failure to appear for a VA examination and because there are outstanding treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his rheumatoid arthritis and parathyroidism.