Ankle decisions — 2015

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injury. The right ankle disability appeal was dismissed due to withdrawal by the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are denied.,The reduction in the evaluation for residuals of an avulsion fracture of the right ankle resulting in bone spurs and hammertoes from a 20 percent rating to a 10 percent rating, effective March 25, 2011, is found to be improper.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability was incurred in service, but denied his claim for a right ankle disability as there is no evidence of arthritis within one year post-service.

The Board has determined that there is not enough evidence to establish a connection between the Veteran's current bilateral ankle disability and his military service or any service-connected conditions. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic right ankle sprain, and entitlement to compensable disability ratings for pseudofolliculitis barbae, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current right ankle disability or any in-service injury that could be linked to the Veteran's current conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's monoarticular inflammation of the right foot was caused by service and grants service connection for this condition. The other conditions were not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left ankle and lumbar spine disabilities were denied. The initial rating of 10 percent for the left ankle sprain was upheld, as was the 0 percent rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine prior to September 21, 2011. However, a higher rating of at least 20 percent on and after September 21, 2011, for his lumbar spine disability was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not currently have a right knee disability or tinnitus, and her current diagnosed conditions are not related to her active service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and urinary incontinence, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year after separation from service. The examiner opined that the Veteran's back disability did not cause his hypertension.

The case is being remanded for additional development to address the Veteran's claims of service connection and increased ratings for his knee and ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination reports and the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various skin disorders and edema of the ankles, as well as infections of his feet, were denied. The Board found no current diagnoses related to these conditions and that there was insufficient evidence linking them to service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral pes planus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a pre-existing bilateral pes planus condition that was aggravated by his active duty service, and thus he is entitled to service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition. However, the Veteran's current knee and ankle conditions are not related to her active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right ankle disorders are currently rated at 20 percent each, effective from September 2011. The highest schedular evaluations for these conditions have already been assigned.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities have been rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has determined that a rating of 20 percent is warranted for each ankle disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including pes planus with degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss, thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint disease, bilateral knee and ankle degenerative joint disease, meet the criteria for a TDIU as they result in his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for his reactive arthritis conditions have been granted, with the highest rating of 30 percent assigned for reactive arthritis of the left foot. The other disabilities are rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that the appellant's current left knee and left ankle disorders are not related to his service, specifically noting inconsistencies in the appellant's timeline of events. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including arthritis of the knees, ankles and right foot, have resulted in loss of use of both lower extremities such as to preclude locomotion without regular aid of a walker and wheelchair for more than 200 feet. The claim is granted for specially adapted housing.