Ankle decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to an inadequate VA examination in April 2012. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to reassess the severity of his right and left ankle disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral foot disabilities, ankle disabilities and peripheral vascular disease are not related to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed arthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to ensure that he is accorded full compliance with the statutory duty to assist. The AOJ must obtain SSA records and additional VA treatment records, and then readjudicate his claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the left ankle.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a videoconference hearing, and the RO has scheduled a travel board hearing instead. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, fracture of the right ankle, and third-degree burns. The case was remanded multiple times but remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left eye injury, a left ankle disorder, and a right ankle disorder. The Board found that his pre-existing right ankle disorder did not increase in severity during or by his service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of service connection for a bottom jaw disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left hip disability, and dental disability prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability is etiologically related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and further development of his claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left shoulder and left ankle disabilities are not related to service.,Service connection for a left shoulder disability is denied as there is no evidence of chronic disability present during or following service. The Veteran did not seek treatment for a left shoulder problem until 2003, which was many years after separation from service.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is granted, and his lumbosacral strain is rated at 20 percent. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including patellofemoral arthralgia of the left knee, gastritis and GERD, bronchitis, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, left ankle arthralgia, and left hip strain, do not render her unemployable due to her disabilities. The Board finds that she is capable of performing more sedentary employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of his claimed conditions, including as secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a bilateral ankle disability that was incurred or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's current bilateral lower extremity disorder, including arthritis and hallux valgus, is not related to service. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection based on exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's right ankle condition is rated at 20 percent, the highest available under current VA regulations. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his disability picture is already adequately described by the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a left knee disorder that may be related to his already service-connected right ankle sprain. The case has been remanded due to the need for a personal hearing.

The Veteran's service did not qualify as wartime service, and therefore he does not meet the requirements for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on September 7, 2009 at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital are not eligible for reimbursement under VA regulations because the emergency treatment was not rendered in response to a medical emergency of such nature that delay would have been hazardous to his life or health.