Ankle decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for an advisory medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new and relevant medical evidence received since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The Veteran's claims include service connection for various orthopedic, psychiatric, and skin conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee and bilateral ankle disabilities are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran was not granted any new rating or benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle disability and tinnitus, finding no current disabilities and insufficient evidence to link these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding service connection and evaluation of the Veteran's ankle disabilities and right hand disability.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to service, as it was diagnosed years after discharge and the medical evidence does not support a link.,The Veteran has a residual scar from a spider bite in service that still causes itching. The examiner confirmed this as a residual of an 1988 spider bite treated with outpatient surgery.,There is no clear and unmistakable evidence to show that the left ankle sprain existed prior to service, but its aggravation by service cannot be shown.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia, including the residuals of a right ankle injury is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and clarification on her disability benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination of his left knee and ankle disabilities, which are residuals of Reiter's syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected bilateral pes planus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a disability rating greater than 30 percent. Service connection for a left ankle disorder was also denied, as there was no clinical onset in service and it is not otherwise related to active service or to a service-connected disability. Finally, the Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied due to lack of evidence showing he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions had their onset during or within one year after service.

The Board denied service connection for thyroid disorder/trembling/fatigability and arthritis of multiple joints (hips, ankles, elbows, and knees) due to undiagnosed illness as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his attorney, and the Board is dismissing the case as a result.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and considering the issues of increased evaluation for right ankle disability on both schedular and extraschedular bases, as well as a compensable initial rating for a surgical scar of the right ankle. The TDIU issue remains inextricably intertwined with these other claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including verification of his periods of federalized National Guard service and an examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of any ankle, knee, and back disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for depression and determined that new and material evidence has been received. The claims for service connection for right ankle disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to service-connected disabilities are granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case as there are no longer any issues for consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle fracture warrants a rating of 20 percent, effective from the date of the initial claim. The other issues were not granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including verification of his service in the Southwest Asia theater and obtaining VA examination reports to assess the severity of his right shoulder disorder, right ankle sprain, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and instability of the right knee. The AOJ should also consider whether the Veteran is entitled to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and bilateral carpel tunnel syndrome, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.