Ankle decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disorder is not related to service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ankle disability is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a link between his in-service injury and current condition. The hypertension claim was remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle and left knee disorders are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, and that there was no evidence of a cervical disorder or bilateral hip/knee/shoulder/ankle disorders related to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has restored the Veteran's service-connected ratings for status post contusion, right wrist, left ankle strain, and right ankle strain to 10 percent effective June 11, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The issues on appeal include service connection for low back, left knee, and left ankle disabilities; a higher rating for headaches; and TDIU.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including VA treatment records and an examination for his right shoulder, left knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature, extent and etiology of the Veteran's current right ankle/leg disorder. The case will be returned for further review after completion of this development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ankle disorder or plantar fasciitis, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied. The Board also found no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current plantar fasciitis to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for left ankle instability is being remanded due to the improper reduction from 20 percent to 10 percent, and additional development of his current condition is required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability has been rated at 20 percent since July 2007, and the Board finds a 30 percent rating is warranted for the period on and after July 1, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death was not due to a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Appellant's current right ankle and left great toe disabilities are not causally related to injuries sustained during his National Guard service.

The Veteran's right ankle degenerative changes were granted service connection effective August 26, 1992.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic left ankle disability during service or within one year post-service, and concluded that the current left ankle condition is not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, left ankle arthritis, and TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities has been granted. The erectile dysfunction is found to be secondary to his diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer. His kidney dysfunction and prostate cancer residuals are rated at their maximum levels of 60% and 40%, respectively.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including osteoarthritis of the right ankle, old avulsion fracture of the left ankle, bilateral status post total knee replacement, low back condition, and sciatic nerve condition, did not begin in service or until many years after service and cannot be linked to any established in-service injury, disease, or event. Therefore, these claims for service connection are denied.