Ankle decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, Tinnitus, Thoracolumbar Spine Strain, Right Ankle Strain, and Right Knee Disability, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current left ankle disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. For his bilateral hip disability, the evidence of record fails to establish its onset in service or any direct relationship with service-connected low back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of elbow, shoulder, knee, or ankle disorders. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's temporary total rating for convalescence following left ankle surgery in September 2008 is denied as the preponderance of evidence shows that the surgery was unrelated to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining the Veteran's service personnel records to verify his reported injuries during active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn, and the claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no legal basis for assignment of any earlier effective date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee and ankle disabilities are not related to service, including her service-connected plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's left ankle degenerative joint disease is rated at a 10 percent rating prior to February 27, 2012, and at a 20 percent rating from that date. The current evaluation adequately reflects the severity of his disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues currently on appeal, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review them.

The Veteran's service-connected left great toenail deformity, left foot degenerative arthritis of the left great toe and hammertoe, and left ankle strain have all been granted at their current non-compensable evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including service connection for TBI, PTSD, right ankle DJD, and cholecystectomy with residual scar. The case is being remanded to obtain additional records, conduct examinations, and review the claims file.

The Board has denied service connection for a right ankle disorder and a left shoulder disorder, finding no evidence of such disabilities during the appeal period.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left ankle, right wrist, and left great toe disorders are not related to service. The VA examiner opined that there is no direct link between these conditions and her military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the case is being remanded for further action.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for arthritis of the right ankle, arthritis of the right knee, arthritis of the left knee, and tinnitus with vertigo as these conditions are at least in equipoise with a finding that they were incurred during active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for chronic rhinitis, plantar fasciitis in the left foot, and plantar fasciitis in the right foot have been dismissed as he withdrew these claims during his hearing.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of private medical expenses is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions regarding whether emergency treatment was necessary, if other VA facilities were available, and if the Veteran could have been safely transferred from a non-VA facility.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent since August 26, 2011 and prior to that date. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.