Ankle decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected osteomyelitis and related conditions contributed to his death from sepsis, meeting the criteria for DIC based on service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for a new examination due to the lack of recent VA examination and possible worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right ankle and low back disabilities, as well as his claim for TDIU, are being remanded due to the need for additional development of the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right ankle disorder, right eye disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, sleep apnea syndrome, and knee disorders. The left forearm burn residuals claim was reopened but not granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a travel Board hearing. The issues include seeking an increased rating for his right inguinal hernia, reopening claims for service connection of ankle and knee conditions, and determining if he qualifies for TDIU.

The Board found no evidence to support a service connection for the right ankle disorder, concluding that any current disability is not attributable to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability, embedded non-reactive conjunctival foreign bodies in the right eye, and scar, limbus, right eye are all service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to clarify the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities, including left ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and jaw disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and a right foot and ankle deformity with arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current right ankle, right hip, and right leg disabilities are not related to his military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral ankle disability, a bilateral knee disability, a low back disability, benign prostatic hypertrophy with urinary obstruction, and gout. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review these claims as they are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated VA examination and Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's right thumb sprain is characterized by a gap of more than two inches between the thumb pad and the fingers, with pain, inflexibility, tenderness, swelling, and stiffness. The Veteran's right ankle sprain residuals are characterized by marked limitation of motion of the ankle. A disability rating of 20 percent for each condition has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining VA medical records and private medical records from Dr. White and Dr. Witte.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted. The TDIU claim was also granted prior to February 6, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected right knee, left knee, right shoulder, and right ankle disabilities have been denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on functional impairment or additional limitation due to pain.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder is rated at 30 percent, the highest schedular rating available. His lumbar spondyloarthropathy status post L5 disc surgery is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Veteran's tinnitus is already assigned a maximum schedular rating of 10 percent. For his right ankle arthroplasty and left knee osteoarthritis, the current ratings are 20 percent for the right ankle and 10 percent each for the left knee. His right knee osteoarthritis is rated at 10 percent. The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals, fracture left ankle with hardware has been rated at 10 percent since May 12, 2010. Since then, the disability has progressed to include osteoarthritis of the left ankle, warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability is found to be related to his service, specifically the prolonged marching and combat operations in Iraq. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities have been denied multiple times, and new and material evidence has not been submitted in all cases. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his current disabilities.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities have been denied multiple times, and new and material evidence has not been submitted in all cases. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his current disabilities.