Ankle decisions — 2016

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, bilateral wrist disability, bilateral knee disability, left ankle disability, bipolar disorder, and a low heart rate. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee and ankle conditions are not related to his service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disability of the right foot was denied as there is no evidence of carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on VA's part with respect to the May 2010 right foot ostectomy and subsequent treatment for a MRSA infection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The combined effect of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities has rendered him unemployable/unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the schedular requirements for TDIU eligibility.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for post-operative pigmented nodular tenosynovitis left ankle.

The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease post myocardial infarction and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, effective July 2, 2005. The Veteran's calcaneal spur of the right heel (claimed as tendonitis of the right heel) and right ankle disability were also found to be related to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not sustain an injury to his left ankle during service and therefore, he cannot establish service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury. The claim for service connection for residuals of pneumonia is also denied as there is no credible evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right lower extremity/ankle disability is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The appeal for the special home adaptation grant certificate of eligibility remains pending.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral toe disability, and cellulitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current residuals of a head injury, left knee disability, or right ankle disability and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's DJD of the right hand, bilateral ankles, and cervical DDD were not incurred or aggravated by service. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board found no current diagnosis of right or left ankle disabilities and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his Tricare treatment records from Moody Air Force Base.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and secure substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder and granted it as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability. The claims for type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations of her right and left ankle conditions.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a 20 percent evaluation for left ankle disability (Achilles tendonitis). The Board finds that the evidence is not factually ascertainable in the year prior to September 17, 2010 that an increased evaluation was warranted.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected left ankle osteoarthritis, status-post open reduction internal fixation with scars is being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a new VA examination, and considering the Veteran's claim again.