Ankle decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and issues, including right and left ankle disorders, a hernia disorder, eye problems, back pain, and psychiatric symptoms. The case is being remanded to obtain additional records from the SSA and VA.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury and finds that the Veteran's current left ankle osteoarthritis is related to his in-service left ankle sprain, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for left and right ankle disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total rating due to bilateral surgical fasciotomies was denied as the surgeries were unrelated to her service-connected disabilities.

The claim for service connection for a broken right ankle is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing service records and VA treatment records.

The Board is remanding the case to reconsider the claim for service connection for bilateral ankle and foot disabilities, including as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II. The VA needs to provide an addendum to a previous opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, postoperative removal of loose bodies superimposed on osteochondral fracture dome of the right talus with advanced rheumatoid arthritis, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not due to a service-connected disability. The right ankle disability issue remains pending as it will be addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for left ankle disability was denied, and his service connection claim for bilateral wrist carpal tunnel syndrome (claimed as bilateral arm pain) was also denied. The decision is based on the current diagnostic codes without any indication of a presumption or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle disorders were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service, or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current disabilities of the right knee, left ankle, and right ankle are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The low back disability is not shown by the evidence to be etiologically related to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal was timely perfected, and the Board has jurisdiction to address all issues related to service connection for various conditions. The right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claimed right knee, left ankle, left foot, and left wrist disabilities were not incurred in service and are not otherwise etiologically related to service. Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's post-traumatic arthritis of the right ankle is rated at 40 percent, which is the highest schedular rating available for this condition.

The Veteran's left ankle disability was evaluated at a 30 percent rating from January 30, 2008 to July 14, 2014. The disability did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, PTSD with secondary depressive disorder and chronic sleep impairment, and left ankle disability are all granted. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU starting from March 2013.

The Veteran's ankle disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, but the Board has determined that they meet the criteria for a higher rating of 20 percent in both ankles due to marked limitation of motion.

The Veteran's right ankle strain is manifested by complaints of pain and stiffness with overuse, resulting in marked limitation of motion. The Board has assigned a 20% evaluation for this condition under Diagnostic Code 5271.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the claims.