Ankle decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities were denied as there is no current evidence of a diagnosed disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining missing records from his military service and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his left ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination after the submission of additional medical evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle disability is not related to his active duty service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not preclude substantially-gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting information regarding the Veteran's hearing request. The Veteran is entitled to a videoconference hearing at the earliest opportunity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle disability is etiologically related to his active service, and thus service connection for a left ankle sprain is granted.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the service-connected right ankle fracture, status post reconstructive surgery, effective from June 2, 2011. This is the maximum schedular rating available under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a vocational rehabilitation examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the underlying claims can be adjudicated on the merits.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a left ankle disability, prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and unclear diagnoses. The issues of service connection for left big toe, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities are being addressed.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for the residuals of left ankle surgery has been granted, and he is now rated at 20 percent. Additionally, a separate 10 percent rating for a painful left ankle scar has also been granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed left knee and left ankle disabilities did not have their clinical onset in service or are otherwise related to active service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board has granted this rating. The cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities are not service-connected based on direct evidence or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's Hepatitis C has been evaluated as 10 percent disabling throughout the appeal period, with symptoms of intermittent fatigue, malaise, and anorexia.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered together, render him unemployable. The case is REMANDED for a comprehensive examination to determine the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left ankle instability were denied as the Veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU, and his evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of these conditions.