Ankle decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his back and left ankle conditions, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that a TDIU is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her bilateral ankle disabilities from November 17, 1999, to February 4, 2000, on an extraschedular basis have been denied as the evidence does not show that her disability picture is so exceptional or unusual that it renders impractical the application of the regular schedular standards.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain was granted service connection.,His request for an extension of a temporary total evaluation following surgery for his service-connected right knee disability has been granted.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish whether the appellant was on Federal service (ACDUTRA or INACDURA) on August 10, 1979 when he sustained an ankle injury. The case is being remanded for further examination and medical opinion regarding the relationship between the current left ankle disability and the 1979 injury.

The Veteran's left ankle disorder is related to his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's right ankle DJD is related to an in-service injury, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus first manifested during active military service and granted service connection for this condition. However, it was determined that his bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during or as a result of active military service and denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's current disabilities, including his head injuries and psychiatric conditions, are not etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes, and his pre-existing right foot disorder was not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, ankle, and foot injuries are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a medical examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including vision disorder, low back disability, groin disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral leg disability, bilateral ankle disability, and bilateral knee disability. The effective date of the grant of service connection for pes planus was set at February 24, 2009.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability of the right ulnar nerve, and denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed disabilities. The issues related to his right foot, knee, and ankle disabilities were also addressed.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and non-VA medical records, scheduling a new examination if necessary, and providing the Veteran with an opportunity to respond.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left ankle disability did not manifest in active service and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active service. The Board also determined that the Veteran's current left ankle disability is not due to and has not been aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as he does not have a back, right hip, left knee or left ankle disability that is etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right shoulder, left ankle, right ankle, hypertension, bilateral foot plantar fasciitis with left first metatarsophalangeal joint degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder all had their respective initial rating evaluations determined to be inadequate.

The Board has determined that a timely substantive appeal was submitted for the issues of right ankle arthritis, left knee degenerative changes, and chip fracture of the right middle finger. The case is now REMANDED to obtain VA examinations and readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has been rated at 20 percent since February 6, 2009. The Board finds that the symptoms and functional impairment warrant this rating.