Ankle decisions — 2015

The Board has reopened the appellant's claims for service connection for left knee disability, migraine headaches, and left ankle disability. A VA examination is needed to address these conditions.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 20 percent, and her anxiety disorder remains at a 50 percent rating. The TDIU claim was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine, chondromalacia of the left knee, and left ankle sprain, precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as the evidence is not in equipoise and does not support a finding of service connection for any of the conditions listed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left knee disability, left ankle disability, and left hip fracture residuals. The issues of chronic headaches, cerebrovascular accident (CVA), psychiatric disability, vertigo, back disability, and right eye cataracts were also addressed.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain with degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 20 percent, and his GERD is rated as 30 percent disabling. Both conditions are considered to be of direct service origin.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the earliest opportunity. If he fails to appear, his pending hearing requests will be withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right ankle, left ankle, and left shoulder disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability is not related to his active duty service or his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type I with erectile dysfunction. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for the right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete rationale in a previous VA opinion regarding the Veteran's leg length discrepancy and its relationship to his service-connected right knee disability, as well as the potential aggravation of other disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and left thigh disabilities are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The VA medical opinions provided significant weight to the conclusion that any current low back or left thigh disability is less likely caused by or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to report for a scheduled videoconference hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after appropriate action has been taken.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,For her claim of service connection for feminine problems, to include tubal ligation and unusual menstrual cycles, the Board finds that she has submitted sufficient evidence to reopen her claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw all his appeals except for the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service for the left ankle, and his back and psychiatric conditions are not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The preponderance of the evidence fails to establish a relationship between his current sleep apnea and his service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his left ankle disability or hemorrhoids. The issues of service connection for stomach disorder, low back disorder, upper back pain, and bilateral blood clots of the legs were also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and special monthly compensation need to be remanded due to incomplete evaluations and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has been rated as 10 percent disabling since November 23, 2011. The VA examiner found that the Veteran had full dorsiflexion and plantar flexion of her right ankle at worst to 15 degrees with pain on motion.