Ankle decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further medical examination and evaluation due to the submission of recent treatment records that suggest a worse disability picture.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues related to service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, right ankle disability, and retinal lesion.

The Veteran's left ankle disorder is not related to service. The VA examiner found no evidence that the current left foot-ankle disorder relates to his in-service injury.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot, ankle, and knee disorders as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The evidence did not show that a foot, ankle, or knee problem had existed continuously since service or was related to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and analysis to determine the appropriate disability rating for his cervical spine disability, including consideration of radiculopathy and other related conditions.

The Veteran's hepatitis B is rated at a 10 percent disability rating, effective from the date of claim. The Board has found that his bilateral ankle and knee conditions are less likely than not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar myofascial strain, right hip and ankle disabilities that are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.,Service connection is also granted for bilateral hip and ankle disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a bilateral ankle disability. The Veteran's right knee disability is found to be related to service, while his bilateral ankle disability is not considered due to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has determined that the earliest possible effective date for the grants of service connection for residuals of a right ankle sprain and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, status post laminectomy is May 12, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, but his case is evaluated on an extraschedular basis due to unemployability caused by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left hand and right hand disabilities have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,The Veteran has provided credible lay statements regarding numbness and tingling in his hands during service, but the VA examiner found no current neurological disability affecting his hands.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent for traumatic arthritis and limitation of motion. The Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating as the current evaluation adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right ankle disability and low back strain have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ankle disability, and her left ankle disability is less likely than not related to service. The tinnitus was found to be at least as likely as not associated with hearing loss during service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for residuals of a right ankle sprain and residuals of a right elbow dislocation were denied as the evidence did not show that his disabilities warranted compensable ratings.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 were not met.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied in September 1947, and the Board found that a new claim was filed on August 18, 2005. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set to August 18, 2005.

The Veteran's service-connected post-operative left ankle sprain is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating of 20 percent effective September 6, 2006.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been granted.,Her claim for an increased evaluation for her stress reaction of the right talus and fibula was denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for osteochondritis dissecans with traumatic arthritis of the right ankle was denied. The Board also granted a TDIU effective from March 8, 2012.