Ankle decisions — 2015

The Veteran's right ankle disability, which includes chronic pain and marked limitation of motion, is rated at 20 percent for the entire appeal period.

The Board granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and denied service connection for pes planus, bilateral ankle disability, and tinnitus. The effective date remains at the date of receipt of the claim (April 10, 2009).

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be adjudicated, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left ankle disability. The claims will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's left shoulder, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities have been granted increased initial ratings of 10% each since February 6, 2008.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot, right ankle, and right leg conditions. The case will be remanded for an addendum opinion regarding the proper classification of the Veteran's bilateral foot condition and whether it is related to his active military service or a pre-existing motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's right lower sensory deficit of the cutaneous nerve is rated at 10 percent, effective from the date of service connection. The appeal for corneal degeneration arcus senilis was withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues, including a hearing for the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee and right foot/ankle disabilities are not related to his service, and therefore, he is not entitled to service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is manifested by marked limitation of motion, warranting a 20 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5271.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right ankle, but denied service connection for a left hand disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and found that the Veteran's participation in recovery and cleanup efforts during his active duty service is a stressor related to his PTSD. The remaining issues of whether new and material evidence was received to reopen prior claims for various conditions, as well as entitlement to increased disability ratings, are remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a Decision Review Officer hearing, and will be reviewed on the basis of additional evidence.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent prior to May 25, 2012 and at 30 percent since then. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating for the left ankle disability.

The Veteran's bilateral knee, bilateral hip and back disabilities have been attributed to his service-connected status post triple arthrodesis/correction of hammertoes due to deformity of the right foot operated. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination related to his right ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his VA treatment records and scheduling him for a more contemporaneous VA examination of his left ankle.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the PTSD claim. The right ankle and knee disability claims were denied, as new evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening the claim, and there is no causal relationship between service and these disabilities. Hearing loss and tinnitus claims are pending.

The Veteran's combined disability rating was sufficient to meet the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left ankle sprain with arthralgia. The Board found that these conditions precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.