Ankle decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and right axilla phlebitis are denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities during the period of the claim.

The Veteran's respiratory and right ankle disabilities are not service-connected.,The Veteran's current right ankle disability is not related to her service-connected left knee or left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions are still pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, or bilateral hip disorder. The claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disorder is denied as there is no direct evidence linking it to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left ankle, hip, and low back disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected traumatic arthritis, residuals of left ankle fracture, is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disorders, as well as other issues, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim of service connection for headaches and brain damage.

The Veteran's right ankle fracture with residuals of osteoarthritis resulted in moderate symptoms of pain and limited motion, warranting a 20 percent disability rating.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of a fractured nose, or right ankle disability that was caused or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examinations. The Veteran's claims of service connection for a left ankle disability, as well as his claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected left shoulder injury with degenerative joint disease, chondromalacia of the left knee, postoperative, and chondromalacia of the right knee, postoperative, are being remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for liver disease and secondary service connection for skin rash, bilateral elbow disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability. The case is remanded to schedule a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's liver disease and whether any other disabilities are secondary to it.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals, and the Board does not have further jurisdiction to consider them.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral ankle disorder, and thus service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding his depressive disorder claim. The right knee and left ankle disabilities will be evaluated again to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to address the severity of his service-connected gout and osteoarthritis of the bilateral great toes, right ankle disability, and bilateral pes planus. The RO must also ensure that all claims are readjudicated in light of all evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle injury and left hip degeneration are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's disability of the bilateral feet and ankles is related to his active service, thus granting service connection for residuals of cold weather injury.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication of the issues of entitlement to an extraschedular evaluation for DJD of the left ankle and entitlement to a TDIU. The AOJ/AMC is also required to issue a statement of the case with regard to the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for dextroscoliosis with DJD, L5-S1 and DJD of the left ankle.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and a higher rating is not warranted as the evidence does not show ankylosis in any degree.,For his service-connected right first toe disability, a higher rating is not warranted as it would exceed the amputation value for the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a left ankle rating was denied as there is no indication of the Veteran's intent to file a claim prior to January 2010.,Service connection for a right shoulder disability was also denied due to lack of evidence showing onset during service or within one year after separation.