Ankle decisions — 2016

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and outstanding records that need to be obtained. The Veteran's service connection claims for low back and right ankle disabilities will be reconsidered after these additional steps.

The Veteran's right ankle strain is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support a direct service connection for the right ankle disability, and it was not caused or aggravated by any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to the character of his discharge. The Board of Correction of Naval Records upgraded his discharge from general court martial to under honorable conditions in February 2008, which allowed him to receive VA benefits. However, an earlier effective date was not granted as it would have been based on when he filed for correction of his military records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a left ankle fracture are due to his service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a right ankle sprain from July 16, 2001. The Veteran's claim was originally filed in 2001 and the award is effective as of that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral foot, ankle, and knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his period of active duty. The preponderance of the evidence did not support the Veteran's assertions of in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination. The issues on appeal are related to his left foot, ankle, and lower leg disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and medical inquiry, including obtaining SSA records, prison records, and VA examinations.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current left ankle disorder or sleep disorder that is related to his military service.,While the Veteran reported experiencing symptoms of a left ankle disorder and sleep disturbances, there is no medical evidence showing he has these conditions. The VA examiner found no diagnosis for the claimed left ankle condition and noted that any present disability was less likely than not incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including obtaining a new VA medical examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's left ankle disability. The issues include determining if an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent is warranted for this condition.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability for the claimed right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, frostbite residuals of the left nipple, or frostbite residuals of the right nipple. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and reviewing the claims file to determine if his lumbar spine, bilateral knee, right hip, right ankle, and right foot disorders are related to service or service-connected left ankle and foot disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his claimed back, knee, ankle, and heel conditions as well as headaches. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for recurrent tinnitus and left foot and ankle disability. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot and ankle disability is being remanded to the RO.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left knee arthritis, bilateral elbow and hand arthritis, back disability, bilateral ankle arthritis, lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and dental trauma. The appeals were based on a claim of cold weather injury during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is not considered a disability for VA purposes.,There is no evidence of an in-service event, injury or disease related to hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period.,Service connection for right and left Achilles tendon ruptures, status post-operative, was not established. The VA examiner found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability, which was deemed due to an in-service injury.