Ankle decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle injury did not manifest during service and is not otherwise related to his military service. The claim for a right ankle disorder was previously denied, but new evidence received since then does not meet the criteria for reopening the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain VA treatment records. The issues of increased ratings for right calcaneal and fibula stress fractures, left foot hallux valgus deformity with second and third hammertoes, and left ankle strain are pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records and an updated VA examination.

The claims for service connection for a nervous condition/depression and left ankle injury were not granted, but the claim for bilateral hearing loss was reopened and granted with a 10% rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate examinations to determine the nature and likely etiology of his claimed bilateral foot, ankle, hip, hand, and shoulder disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for chronic kidney disease has been denied. The issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease and for a TDIU remain under review.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip, right ankle, left wrist, and right wrist disabilities. The preponderance of evidence is against finding that these conditions are related to active military service.

The Board found no evidence of a preexisting right ankle condition that was aggravated by service, and concluded that the Veteran's current degenerative joint disease did not manifest within one year after separation from service. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death was not related to his service-connected disabilities, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings has been withdrawn by his authorized representative.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of an insect bite to the lower back, bilateral bunions and bunionectomy residuals, and bilateral ankle disability have been granted.,Service connection is established for these conditions as they are related to her period of active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected post-traumatic arthritis of the left ankle is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an orthopedic examination.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities that he claims are secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The Board has determined that additional development is needed before a decision can be made.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ankle disorder was not incurred or aggravated in service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of an injury to the coccyx and residuals of an injury to the right ankle as there is no evidence of current disabilities or their relationship to in-service injuries.

The Veteran's left ankle and Achilles tendon disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the combined evaluation for all related conditions (XI muscle group injury, scars of bilateral lower extremities, anterior tibial nerve injury) results in an overall rating of 80 percent. The claim for increased ratings remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, urinary tract infections, and right ankle disorder were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or residuals from in-service injuries.,There are no records showing the presence of a current disability related to any of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any associated disabilities in his knees and ankles.

The Veteran's current bilateral ankle tendonitis is as likely as not related to his active service, specifically the in-service ankle sprains. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise and grants the claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral ankle disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, left ankle disability, and chronic sinusitis based on the evidence showing these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service.