Ankle decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case to determine whether the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities and to refer the matter for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of medical records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder and determined that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also found that generalized osteoarthritis, which is hereditary in nature, was incurred during service.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a left ankle sprain resulted in painful motion throughout the appeal period, but did not result in severe limitation of motion. The claim for an increased rating was granted to the extent that the disability was rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has been rated at 20 percent disabling, the maximum under Diagnostic Code 5271 for marked limited motion of the ankle.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral ankle conditions and left hip condition, as these issues are related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination, and readjudicating the claim.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has been rated at 20 percent since June 8, 2009. The effective date for this rating remains unchanged.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hip, ankle, and knee disabilities are not related to his service. The claim for bilateral knee disability was previously denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.