Ankle decisions — 2015

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal as his Substantive Appeal was not timely filed for the issues of service connection and increased evaluation.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities should be remanded due to a change in hearing presiding VLJ.

The Board has found no credible evidence of a left ankle injury in service and the Veteran's current left ankle disability is not related to her right ankle or bilateral leg disabilities. The claim for service connection for a left ankle disability, including as secondary to a service-connected disability, is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his left ankle disability has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase beyond the current 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were withdrawn at a Decision Review Officer Conference.,The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of left shoulder, right ankle, or left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his right ankle, as the last examination was from February 2009 and there are allegations that his condition has worsened since then.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral ankle and knee disabilities are not related to service, including any in-service injury. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for right knee and ankle disorders were denied. The claim for right hip disorder is pending, as the VA examiner has not yet provided a definitive opinion regarding its onset or etiology. The Veteran's diabetes and hypertension are both rated at their maximum levels.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records to address the Veteran's claims.

The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection of a right ankle condition. The Veteran's current diagnosis of degenerative joint disease does not meet the criteria for service connection as it is not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inconsistencies in previous findings regarding ankylosis and missing x-rays.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's right knee disability, left ankle disability, and bilateral foot disability are all found to be related to his service-connected left knee disabilities. The appeal regarding the increased rating for left knee degenerative joint disease and instability is dismissed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and lumbosacral spine disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's initial rating for his left knee medial meniscus tear was denied, with a current evaluation of 10 percent.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disorder, effective from May 2, 2014.

The Board found that the reductions from 10 percent to zero percent for left hand strain, right hand strain, left ankle strain, and right ankle strain were proper based on improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues are about service connection and an initial evaluation for his left ankle disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle disability and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for low back strain. The Veteran did not have a bilateral ankle disability, and his low back disability was manifested by forward flexion greater than 60 degrees; combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 120 degrees but not greater than 235 degrees; no muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or spinal contour; and mild radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The Veteran's low back disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further consideration due to incomplete records and conflicting evidence regarding his employability.