Ankle decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal for a separate rating for traumatic arthritis of the right ankle has been dismissed as moot due to the finding of clear and unmistakable error in the June 2009 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased ratings was denied. The Board found no current right hip disability, thus denying the claim of service connection for a right hip disability. For lumbar strain and right ankle sprain, the evidence did not show that the disabilities were caused by or aggravated by any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection were denied. The Veteran's residuals of left talar avulsion fracture are currently rated as 10 percent disabling, while the right ankle disability is not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a missed VA examination, and the Veteran's right ankle disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has denied his claims for secondary service connection for bilateral knee disability, low back disability, and residuals of a head injury.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of traumatic brain injury, manifested by headaches, is granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and chronic disabilities of the knees and ankles are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hand and wrist tenosynovitis is not currently shown, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including consideration of a recent VA examination and issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his left ankle disability and further consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed due to the conflicting opinions regarding the Veteran's right ankle disability and its relationship to service. The issues of entitlement to service connection for both the right and left ankle disabilities are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her right knee and right ankle disabilities. The TDIU claim will also be deferred until the increased rating claims are adjudicated.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied. The appeal seeking a TDIU rating was withdrawn by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hip or ankle disabilities and thus, service connection cannot be granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran not being provided with a hearing in Florida as requested. The appeal is now pending for further action.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates have been denied as the earliest date of receipt of a claim is not prior to the assigned effective dates.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot cellulitis with a surgical scar and right ankle tendonitis have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or chronic conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of left ankle, cervical spine (neck), or back disabilities. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection claims and initial disability rating claims. The Board found no evidence of a current left shoulder disorder, and the issues concerning bilateral hand disorders, left wrist disorders, mechanical low back pain with mild joint facet arthropathy, postoperative residuals of a fracture of the right wrist, right wrist surgical scar, and left ankle sprain were not addressed due to lack of service connection claims. The Veteran's appeal is denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hip, right ankle, and left wrist disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, scheduling a new VA examination to assess the severity of his left ankle disabilities, and readjudicating his claims based on the evidence.