Ankle decisions — 2014

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot and right ankle conditions, as well as his attempts to reopen previously denied claims for skin condition, left knee condition, and headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current disabilities of the left and right feet, ankles, and low back were incurred in service. Service connection is therefore granted for these conditions.

The case is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination for the low back disability and the need to obtain additional medical records.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ankle sprain is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection. For his low back disability, the Board also found no nexus between the current condition and service/injuries therein.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating prior to July 17, 2012. The Veteran is also service-connected for other conditions that do not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current right calf, right ankle, or bilateral hip disorder. The Veteran's complaints are associated with his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of this claim as he is no longer alive.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for Hepatitis C and a right ankle disorder, finding no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder are all related to service. The decision is granted for these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the current level of severity of his left ankle disability and for updated treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right foot or right ankle disability that is related to service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's service-connected scars of the left ankle, right shoulder, back, and left arm have not been shown to meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of current diagnoses for the Veteran's claimed bilateral ankle, foot, and hip joint conditions. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of November 5, 2008 for the grant of service connection for a right ankle lateral malleolus avulsion chip fracture. The Veteran never submitted any unadjudicated formal or informal claims prior to this date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the claims of service connection for right knee, left elbow, and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran is granted an increased rating from 20 percent to 30 percent for his right leg muscle disability of MGs XI and XII, with a separate compensable evaluation of 10 percent for his scar disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability have been denied as there is no competent evidence showing a current disability related to service. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for inguinal hernia has also been denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his low back, neck, wrist, ankle, and knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not support a rating higher than 40 percent for his lumbosacral spine disability, 30 percent for his cervical spine disability, 10 percent for his right wrist injury, 10 percent for his right ankle disability, or 10 percent for his right knee tendonitis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's appeal is currently on hold.