Ankle decisions — 2014

The Veteran's left ankle sprain/strain is currently rated at 20% from November 7, 2012 onwards. His degenerative changes of the lumbar spine are not considered service-connected.,Service connection for a right wrist disability was granted in September 2011.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral pes planus is granted. The Board finds that the evidence reasonably supports that the Veteran has bilateral pes planus which was first noted in service and has persisted since.

The Board has remanded the case for further proceedings consistent with a Court decision, including additional development and consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease of the right lower extremity and right foot and ankle arthritis, finding that these conditions pre-existed service or were not related to active duty.

The Board dismissed the claim of a right ankle disability and denied claims for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for residuals of an excised calcified hematoma, left upper extremity cold exposure with Raynaud's syndrome, right upper extremity cold exposure with Raynaud's syndrome, and prostatitis.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple secondary service connection claims for various disabilities, including knees, ankles, and back conditions. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his right ankle disability, including any related secondary conditions. The claim will be reconsidered based on the updated evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected tendonitis, status post injury to the right ankle is rated at 20 percent effective as of the date of the May 2007 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, prostate disability, Bell's palsy, bilateral ankle disability, and scars have been denied. The Veteran's hearing loss claim has also been denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be etiologically related to his period of active service.,Service connection for mild degenerative joint disease of both hips, secondary to the service-connected residuals of a fracture to the right tibia, fibula, and ankle, is granted. The claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of both hands was previously denied.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have an in-service injury to his right ankle and thus, service connection for a right ankle disability cannot be established. The claim was denied.

The Veteran is unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment due to his musculoskeletal disabilities and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with panic disorder, agoraphobia, and dysthymia.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to report for a scheduled Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after proper notice and scheduling of another hearing.

The Veteran's claims for right wrist tendonitis, costochondritis of the right ribs (resolved), left and right ankle arthritis, facial myokymia, and prostatitis have been granted. The service connection is established on a direct basis.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, gout and arthritis of the feet, and gout and arthritis of the ankles were denied as there is no evidence showing that these conditions manifested during service or within one year thereafter. The Board found that the current disabilities are not related to military service.

The Veteran's diffuse arthralgia of the ankles, knees, and hips is considered to be due to his January 2003 anthrax vaccination. His psychiatric disorder is also linked to this same exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right lower leg, thigh, knee, ankle, and back conditions have been denied. The Board finds that there is no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions or any in-service injury.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of a left ankle injury is denied as there is no current diagnosis.,Service connection for gout has been granted. The Veteran currently has diagnosed gout.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the lumbar spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor is it proximately due to a service-connected condition.

The appellant does not have a current diagnosis of any type of posttraumatic residuals of an injury of the left ankle or competent and credible indication that he has present disability as a residual or consequence of this type of trauma during his active duty military service.