Ankle decisions — 2015

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for bilateral shoulder, knee, hip, left ankle, and lower back disorders due to a lack of new and material evidence showing a link between these conditions and either service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and examinations.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a chronic right ankle disability that manifested during or as a result of active military service. As such, the claim for service connection for a right ankle disability is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability and finds that the Veteran's current right ankle disorder is related to his in-service injury. The claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, IBS, GERD, prostatitis, hypertension, degenerative arthritis of right acromioclavicular joints, and triceps muscle injury are addressed on remand.

The Veteran's residuals, right ankle sprain are not manifested by moderate limited motion of the ankle or ankyloses. The Board finds that an initial compensable evaluation is not warranted at any point during the appeal period for the Veteran's residuals, right ankle sprain.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for right ankle, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities due to new evidence submitted since the final denial. The claims are now considered on their merits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle arthritis is as likely as not related to his military service, granting him service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back, left shoulder, and right ankle disorders are not related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left ankle disability with degenerative arthritis and sinus tarsi syndrome. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the current left ankle disability, including consideration of the Veteran's statements regarding a twisting injury during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to service for his back, left shoulder, and left knee conditions. The evidence does not establish continuity of symptomatology or a nexus between these disabilities and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability was granted, effective March 11, 1992.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting medical examinations to clarify the nature of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, right knee strain, thoracic lumbar strain, right ankle strain, and right shoulder strain.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected foot disabilities and his right ankle and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's right ankle and foot disability was ultimately assigned a temporary total evaluation of 100 percent from January 5, 2010, through March 31, 2010, and an evaluation of 10 percent for the period of April 1, 2010, to November 29, 2010. The temporary total evaluation was extended to 100 percent since November 30, 2010, through December 31, 2010, and an evaluation of 20 percent since January 1, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, combined, result in such severity as to render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and hyperlipidemia, was dismissed. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to active duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disorders, finding that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for a low back disability, allergic rhinitis, and left shoulder impingement syndrome with osteoarthritis. The remaining issues are either not addressed or remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and hypertension have been denied. The Board found no indication that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with new examinations to assess her right ankle and shoulder disabilities. The case will be returned to the Board after this development.