Ankle decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claim regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right lower extremity disorder, to include 'sciatic-like' pain, secondary to degenerative arthritis, post dislocation of the right ankle with torn ligament.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, effective August 11, 2010. The claim for a higher initial rating remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of the left ankle disability and issuance of a statement of the case addressing service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected tinea pedis and pyoderma of the feet do not warrant a compensable rating. The Board finds no evidence that his peripheral vascular disease, peripheral neuropathy, or lipomas are related to service.

The Board denied reopening of service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder and headaches due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and further development of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for the merits of the case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and SSA records and scheduling a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her left leg and back conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration due to additional evidence obtained by the AOJ, and the Veteran's appeal is now pending with the AOJ.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and extension of a temporary total rating was denied. The VA examiner found that the left ankle sprain did not meet criteria for higher ratings or an extension of the temporary total rating.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred during treatment at the Southeast Georgia Health System Camden Campus on July 21, 2011 is denied because the condition was not a medical emergency and a VA facility was feasibly available.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The issues on appeal were previously about service connection for a right and left ankle disability, but as the Veteran died, no further action can be taken.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete active duty service treatment records and the need for further examinations regarding each of the disabilities on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records from SSA and VA/VA clinics, as well as any private treatment records. A new VA examination will also be scheduled.

The Veteran's current chronic headaches are not service-connected as they were not manifest during or within one year after his periods of active duty, and there is no evidence linking them to service. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder and left ankle strain disabilities meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for a right ankle disability is not addressed in the decision. The Veteran's PTSD rating remains at 50 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including psychiatric disorders and musculoskeletal conditions.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is found to be etiologically related to a disease, injury, or event that occurred during service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule a VA examination for his right ankle disability. The issues of increased ratings for bipolar disorder, knee osteoarthritis, and initial rating for the right ankle sprain are also pending.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right ankle disorder is directly caused by or aggravated by his service-connected left and right knee disabilities.