Ankle decisions — 2015

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claims for other conditions. The effective dates assigned were December 20, 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to obtain medical records and conduct examinations to determine if his left ankle disability and acquired psychiatric disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran is rendered unemployable as the result of service-connected disabilities and has been granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for follow-up care after his left ankle surgery were not authorized in advance by VA, and the Board finds that he did not meet the criteria for reimbursement under applicable laws.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected ankle and wrist disabilities were denied. The right and left ankles are currently rated at 20 percent, while the left wrist and forearm disability is also rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's left and right ankle disabilities are currently rated as 30 percent and 20 percent, respectively. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either disability.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 40 percent, which does not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU. However, his service-connected disabilities do not result in unemployability without regard to advancing age.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with a combined disability rating of 80 percent for ankylosing spondylitis and associated lower extremity disabilities. The issues of increased ratings for limitation of abduction of the bilateral hips and sensory deficit of the bilateral lower extremities are addressed in the remand portion.

The Veteran's initial claim of a higher rating for his right foot and ankle disability was granted, with an effective date of August 17, 2010. The current evaluation is 10 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of sacroiliac joint strain, pharyngitis, gastritis, or heart disability related to service.,Service connection for bilateral ankle injuries is denied.

The Veteran's increased disability ratings for PTSD and osteoarthritis of the right ankle were denied, while his rating for an injury to Muscle Group I was granted. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the irregular heartbeat claim. The Board found that service connection for bilateral pes planus, a skin disorder claimed as acne and razor burn, and bilateral wrist disability is not warranted based on lack of evidence of an increase in severity during service or aggravation by service.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently evaluated at a 20 percent rating, which reflects limitation of motion. The claim for an increased rating has been granted.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, which includes a residual avulsion fracture with degenerative joint disease, does not result in any limitation of range of motion or pain on motion. As such, the criteria for an initial compensable rating have not been met.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, night sweats, chest pain, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and left knee disability have all been denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for temporomandibular joint disorder (jaw pain).,No specific rating or effective date has been assigned in this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle fracture was not incurred in line of duty due to his own misconduct, specifically driving under the influence of alcohol. As a result, service connection for this disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to assess the current severity of his right knee, left knee, right ankle, and postoperative right knee scar disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for scheduling a video conference hearing due to his failure to appear at the previously scheduled hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims that a December 1997 rating decision, which denied service connection for a back disability and feet and ankles swelling and bleeding, was clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder and bilateral ankle disorder are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.