Ankle decisions — 2015

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 28, 2006, for the grant of service connection for a right ankle disorder.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has found that the left foot disorder and psoriasis are related to his service-connected right ankle disability, warranting secondary service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed right ankle and low back disabilities, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing her with a VA examination to assess the current nature, extent, and severity of her left hip and bilateral ankle disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic lumbar strain, bilateral knee degenerative joint disease (DJD), right shoulder disorders including osteoarthritis and impingement, and bilateral ankle arthritis. The diagnoses were not deemed to be related to service.

Service connection granted for right ankle disorder secondary to service-connected lumbar strain with spondylosis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as well as posttraumatic arthritis of left ankle. Effective dates assigned are February 7, 2011, for all conditions.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain clarification on the presence of current ankle disabilities and to provide etiology opinions regarding their relationship to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to address the relationship between his service-connected conditions and asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion from the March 2015 examiner regarding whether his service-connected disabilities have aggravated his left shoulder, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left ankle fracture, finding that the Veteran's current left ankle disorder is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The hearing loss and tinnitus claims are remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ankle and right knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left ankle disability was denied as the evidence did not show marked limitation of motion, ankylosis, malunion, or astragalectomy.

The Board has granted service connection for status post abdominoplasty due to cesarean sections with residual scars, left ankle and Achilles tendon condition, and bacterial vaginosis and vaginitis, to include hysterectomy.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's abdominal scars, left ankle and Achilles tendon condition, and bacterial vaginosis and vaginitis, including her hysterectomy. The Board found that these conditions are causally or etiologically related to service.,The decision also grants service connection for status post abdominoplasty due to cesarean sections with residual scars, left ankle and Achilles tendon condition, and bacterial vaginosis and vaginitis, to include hysterectomy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected thoracic and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with thoracic spine dextrorotoscoliosis, left ankle sprain and left Achilles calcaneal spur, restless leg syndrome, and right shoulder strain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development and consideration, including obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for back, right ankle, and bilateral knee disorders as due to a qualifying chronic disability. The issue of service connection for a bilateral foot disorder and headaches is being remanded.,Headaches are secondary to the service-connected irritable bowel syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and ensuring proper consideration of all submitted evidence.

The Veteran's right and left ankle strains, as well as his right foot disability, were granted service connection effective August 23, 2000. He was awarded a 10% rating for each ankle strain starting June 19, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Veteran was granted a 10% evaluation for sinusitis with allergic rhinitis effective November 10, 2010.