Ankle decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide the Veteran with a VA examination for her vertigo, loss of libido, ankle disability, and psychiatric disabilities. The issues related to service connection are being addressed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current right ankle disability, as well as whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be service-connected, and the claim for a higher rating of his left ankle strain is remanded for further development. The remaining claims are dismissed as withdrawn.

The Board found that the evidence received since the last final denial does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability, and thus denied reopening of the claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for multiple joint disorders, including a right shoulder disorder. The Board also found that service connection is established for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's left ankle disability was reduced from a 20% to a 10% rating, effective June 2, 2014. The Board found that the reduction was improper and restored his benefits.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (depression) was granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for back, bilateral wrist, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right ankle degenerative joint disease and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis. The Veteran also needs to provide updated VA treatment records and any non-VA healthcare provider records.

The Board has reopened several previously denied claims of service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disability, left ankle disability, throat/cough disorder, right ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, and ear disability. The decision is mixed as some issues have new and material evidence presented while others do not.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient opinions regarding secondary service connection and range of motion findings. The Veteran's left hip, right ankle, and left tibia/fibula disabilities are at issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a right ankle disability and denied his claim for service connection. His prostate cancer claim is remanded to the AOJ.

The Veteran's left ankle talocalcaneal coalition and lumbosacral strain were evaluated, but the claims for higher ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for right ankle strain and ankylosing spondylitis of the lumbar spine were denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left ankle disability, sleep apnea, and hypertension is granted. The effective date of the grant of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine remains October 10, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is for an increased rating for his service-connected right ankle fracture with degenerative joint disease and residual scar. The RO granted service connection in November 2009, but the Veteran contends that his disability has worsened since then and now warrants a higher initial rating.

The Board has granted initial 10 percent ratings for right and left ankle sprain residuals, finding that the Veteran's subjective reports of pain, instability, and weakness are consistent with his objective examination findings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disorder, bilateral leg disorders, bilateral hip disorders, and bilateral knee disorders are all service connected as they were aggravated by his service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection for a right ankle disability and hepatitis C. The Board found no current right ankle disability, and the VA examiner could not provide an etiology opinion without resorting to speculation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work experience.