Ankle decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's concentration disorder and leg/ankle pain are not related to service, either directly or due to undiagnosed illness. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle and foot disabilities are not related to his active service, including an in-service ankle sprain. As such, he is not entitled to service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for depression, a neck disability, and left ankle disability. However, the Veteran's claims for increased ratings are denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability is at least as likely as not related to his in-service right ankle sprain, but less likely than not permanently aggravated by it. The case is therefore remanded for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's initial rating claims for lumbar spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease, bilateral pes planus, and left ankle disorder have been granted. The claim for a left knee disorder has been withdrawn.,Service connection was established for grade IV chondromalacia of distal left intermediate cuneiform and remote avulsion of the left anterior talofibular ligament distal fibula.

The Veteran's right ankle disability and TBI have been evaluated based on their current manifestations, with no additional compensable ratings granted. Headaches were not found to be related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his right shoulder and right ankle disabilities, as well as to determine if he has a left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since February 1, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle/leg disorder, including resolved right ankle sprain and post contusion compression injury, is etiologically related to his military service. After resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, it is at least as likely as not that his current condition is due to his inservice injury.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to conflicting information regarding his address and the need for a rescheduled hearing. The issues of reopening service connection for TBI, as well as increased ratings for shell fragment wounds of the right calf and left ankle are also on hold until further notice.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular requirement for assignment of a TDIU and are reasonably shown to render him unable to secure and follow a substantial gainful occupation.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and his left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent. The claims for extraschedular ratings and TDIU are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a right ankle disability, and a right foot disability. The decision also addressed an increased rating claim for residuals of a gunshot wound to the right thigh but that issue is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and needs further development before a final decision can be made on the service connection claim for left ankle disorder.

The case is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims, including addressing the issue of aggravation of a right lower-leg disorder by service-connected left tibia fracture residuals.

The Board has remanded the issues for further evaluation due to procedural errors and will consider them again once the proper information is provided.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected right ankle disability did not warrant a higher rating during the periods specified.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle and knee disabilities are related to his in-service ACDUTRA injury, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle disability is not related to his service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.