Ankle decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle disability is a residual of an in-service injury, and thus service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury is granted. However, there is no evidence to support a separate claim for service connection for a left foot disability.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right sciatic nerve, bilateral hearing loss, and a scar of the right posterior thigh associated with a gunshot wound are denied. The claim for service connection for a right ankle sprain is also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a left foot and ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's preexisting pes planus did not undergo an increase in severity during active service and that his gout of the left ankle did not have its onset during service.

The Veteran's right ankle tendonitis disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that a higher rating was not warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including scheduling an examination and obtaining service treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed right ankle or right foot disability that had its onset in service or is related to service. As such, the claim for service connection for a right foot and/or right ankle disability is denied.

The Board denied service connection for hand tremors, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral hip disability, and left ankle disability to include as due to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability.

The Veteran's headache disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective from October 6, 2014. His bilateral ankle synovitis has been assigned a noncompensable evaluation throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for scheduling a hearing before a member of the Board at the RO.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right elbow disability, claimed as cellulitis, was denied because there is no current diagnosis of a right elbow disability. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of a current disability.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right ankle disorder and a back disability, which he contends is secondary to his right ankle disorder. The Board finds that further development is needed before these claims can be decided.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a Travel Board hearing scheduled in February 2015. The case will be returned to the AOJ for scheduling another hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to his inability to attend a scheduled Board hearing. His request for a rating in excess of 10 percent for a right ankle disability, status-post talar osteophyte excision with scarring, remains under review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his left ankle disability and additional private medical records from Dr. J.K.D.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate, and thus the case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's chronic urinary tract infections are found to be service-connected. There is no current evidence of a right ankle disorder or bilateral wrist disorder (claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome).

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed right ankle, left elbow, and bilateral wrist arthritis were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging an examination to determine if the Veteran's back and right ankle disabilities are related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's right knee disorder, to include osteoarthritis, was found to be incurred in service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be fully adjudicated, including obtaining medical opinions and records.