Ankle decisions — 2016

The Veteran's left heel and ankle strain is currently rated as noncompensable prior to March 28, 2013 and as 10 percent disabling since that date. The Board found the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in an impairment of his ability to retain employment consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests. The evidence shows that a MBA degree is necessary for the Veteran to remain employed at his current position.

The Veteran does not have residuals of a left ankle ganglion cyst that were incurred or aggravated in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, hip, back, and ankle disorders as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting right fifth finger disability did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during service, and no chronic right wrist disorder was incurred or aggravated inservice.,Regarding the left ankle issue, there is no evidence of an in-service occurrence of a left ankle injury. The current left ankle sprain is also not linked to active service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current right or left ankle disorder and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The right and left ankle disabilities are currently rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, while the low back disability is rated at 10 percent.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not related to his period of active service. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a nexus between any current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's left ankle disorder, chronic cervical spine disorder, and migraine headaches were all granted with specific disability ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for the residuals of a right knee meniscus tear was previously denied, and new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The left ankle disability is rated at 40 percent prior to November 18, 2011, and 60 percent as of that date. The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted effective from March 24, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his fractured right ankle and right foot disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's right ankle disorder was manifested by symptoms resulting in marked ankle disability due to pain, swelling, limited motion and malunion of the tibia and fibula. The Veteran experienced episodes of active infections in the right ankle characteristic of osteomyelitis prior to October 2, 2011.

The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to restoration of the 20 percent rating for his service-connected left knee disorder and the 30 percent rating for his service-connected left ankle disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete development and potential consideration of undiagnosed illness or multi-symptom illnesses.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for a higher initial rating in excess of 30 percent for fasciotomy, left foot with plantar fasciitis prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hallux valgus and chronic bilateral ankle strain were not incurred in or related to service. The Board found that the conditions are less likely than not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine traumatic arthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of tingling in upper and lower extremities, bilateral knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and short-term memory loss as manifestations of an undiagnosed illness due to exposure to Gulf War hazards.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and opinions regarding specific diagnoses and their relationship to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral foot disorder, headaches, and gynecological disorder. The psychiatric disorder claim is reconsidered.