Ankle decisions — 2016

The Board found that the Veteran's current left ankle disorder is not related to his in-service left ankle sprain and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability is manifested by moderate limited motion, warranting a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for a chronic left ankle strain was granted effective from January 26, 2007. A subsequent decision in October 2009 determined there was CUE and assigned an effective date of January 26, 2007. The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for his chronic left ankle strain.

The Board finds that the Veteran's credible report of a centipede bite injury on his left ankle during service, combined with the presence of a current scar matching the description in service records, supports granting service connection for residuals of a centipede bite manifested as a left ankle scar.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of his claim for a bilateral ankle disability. The remaining conditions are associated with fibromyalgia.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's left knee and left ankle disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing VA examinations and unobtained SSA records.

The Board has granted service connection for hematuria and a left ankle disability, finding that the current disabilities are related to service. The low back disability claim is remanded as an adequate opinion was not provided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment for which the Veteran's education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records, as well as for a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of any diagnosed right hand and right ankle disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or left ankle disorder.

The Veteran's right ankle degenerative joint disease, as manifested by limited motion and pain, warrants a 10 percent rating under the applicable diagnostic codes. The claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the provision of addendum opinions to address his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee strain is related to his military service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, and heart palpitations are not service-connected. The Veteran's back condition is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability related to his active duty service. His left ankle disability was also not shown to be caused by any period of service. Lastly, the Board found that the current heart palpitations are secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and right ankle disorders did not manifest during service, are not related to service, and have no connection with a service-connected disability. As such, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disorder and right ankle disability were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board denied the claims of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disorder and an increased rating for residuals of right ankle fracture.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 60 percent for prostate cancer status post radical prostatectomy due to herbicide exposure, entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative changes, and entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right ankle strain.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the service connection claims related to low back, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, bilateral ankle, and right foot disabilities. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to further consider these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease, finding that the Veteran's current back pain is related to her in-service injuries. Service connection was denied for left ankle disorder due to lack of a causal link between the current condition and active service.