Ankle decisions — 2015

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disorder and a disorder manifested by near-syncope and dizziness, finding that there is no reliable evidence linking these conditions to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right ankle is manifested by ankylosis in dorsiflexion at more than 10 degrees and with abduction, adduction, inversion or eversion deformity. This meets the criteria for a 40 percent disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5270.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 30 percent, and she has been granted a TDIU based on her service-connected orthopedic and neurological disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to verify his service and obtain relevant medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrences that could be related to the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left forearm and right ankle disorders were denied. The evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an ankle disability was denied in April 1999, and no new and material evidence has been received since then. The appeal is therefore dismissed.

The Veteran's left wrist disability is due to his service-connected right ankle disability and has been granted.,The Veteran's right leg disability is also due to his service-connected right ankle disability and has been granted.,For the period prior to November 2, 2012, a 50 percent rating for depressive disorder has been granted. For the period since November 2, 2012, a higher rating is not warranted.,A 50 percent rating for migraine headaches has been granted.,For the period prior to November 5, 2012, a 10 percent rating for asthma has been granted. For the period since November 5, 2012, a higher rating is not warranted.,A 30 percent rating for TMJ disorder based on limitation of motion has been granted. A higher rating is not warranted.,For all periods under appeal, a 20 percent rating for TMJ disorder based on unilateral loss of whole or part of ramus involving loss of temporomandibular articulation has been granted.,A 20 percent rating for the right ankle disability has been granted. A higher rating is not warranted.,For all periods under appeal, a 10 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability has been granted. A higher rating is not warranted.,For all periods under appeal, a 10 percent rating for the right knee disability has been granted. A higher rating is not warranted.,For all periods under appeal, a 10 percent rating for the left knee disability has been granted. A higher rating is not warranted.,A 10 percent rating for the right carpal tunnel syndrome has been granted. A higher rating is not warranted.,A 10 percent rating for the right lower extremity neuropathy has been granted. A higher rating is not warranted.,For the period prior to December 13, 2012, a 10 percent rating for GERD has been granted. For the period since December 13, 2012, a higher rating is not warranted.,For all periods under appeal, a 10 percent rating for the left ankle disability has been granted. A higher rating is not warranted.,For all periods under appeal, a 10 percent rating for sinusitis has been granted. A higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation and earlier effective date for his service-connected chronic left ankle strain status post injury/laceration was denied. The Board found that the disability is currently rated at its highest possible level under applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's left foot/ankle disability is being remanded for further development, including verification of her duty status during periods of active service and a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of her disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is pending. The appeals regarding CUE in the June 1972 and June 2008 rating decisions on his gunshot wound to left ankle are granted, with no effective date provided as these decisions were final. The appeal regarding TDIU status remains pending.

The Board has ordered the case back for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left ankle disorder is related to his military service or aggravated by his service-connected knee disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's pes planus and conducting VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his back and bilateral ankle conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, a left ankle disability, and chronic fatigue syndrome.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service event, injury, or disease that would support service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is characterized by marked limitation of motion, warranting a 20% rating. The Veteran also has a gastric ulcer that requires an initial evaluation.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 30 percent, the highest rating available for tibia and fibula impairment without nonunion or ankylosis. The evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no indication of ankylosis or nonunion.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for a left ankle disability, and as such, service connection is now granted.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed leg disability, and the Board finds that his hip, knee, and ankle disabilities are not related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA treatment records. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the left ankle, and TDIU are also being addressed.