Ankle decisions — 2015

The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for her service-connected right and left knee disorders, as well as service connection for multiple joint disabilities. The Board has ordered additional examinations to evaluate the severity of her knees and determine if the other claimed conditions are related to her service-connected knee disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including VA examinations and readjudication of the claims.

The Veteran's combined disability rating has been at least 80 percent throughout the pendency of the claim, and he has met the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating. The appeal as to higher ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome and bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such nature and severity as to preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection is sought, and there is no evidence of any in-service injury or disease. The preponderance of the evidence is against the claims for flat feet, Parkinson's disease, left leg disability, and bilateral ankle disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral ankle disability for which service connection may be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU benefits.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for the issues of entitlement to higher initial disability ratings for PTSD, a right ankle disability, and GERD; and service connection for hemorrhoids. The denial of service connection for TBI remains in effect.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable evaluations for bilateral hearing loss, left ring finger fracture, status post left ankle distal fibula fracture, right foot hallux valgus, and left foot hallux valgus were denied. The Veteran is not shown to have a disability manifested by bilateral hearing loss for VA compensation purposes. For the service-connected status post left ankle distal fibula fracture, an initial 10 percent rating was granted effective October 2010.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle, shoulder, left knee, and back conditions are found to be related to service.,The Veteran's right knee condition is also found to be related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, associated with right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity neuropathy, is not considered exceptional enough to warrant an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is secondary to his service-connected foot and low back disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current disabilities and service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities have been found to meet the criteria for a 20 percent rating, which reflects marked limitation of motion in both ankles.

The Veteran's left ankle disability was granted a 10% rating effective March 14, 2005. The initial compensable rating for the period from April 16, 1998 to August 16, 2004 is not addressed as this appeal pertains only to the periods after that.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for left and right ankle sprains have been denied as his conditions do not warrant higher evaluations based on the current evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, memory loss, and shortness of breath as they were not found to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment prior to July 15, 2015.