Ankle decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed back and ankle disorders are not related to his active service, with no nexus found between any current diagnoses and his military service.

The Board granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability as of January 22, 2015. The TDIU claim was denied.

The Veteran's hypertension, ankle disorder, and low back disorder are all found to be related to service. The Board grants these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for myositis of the right leg/knee, right ankle disorder, and bilateral knee disorder are not substantiated as they are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus is also not considered to aggravate these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals seeking ratings in excess of 10 percent for left knee and right ankle disabilities have been dismissed due to his abandonment. The propriety of the reduction in the rating assigned for headaches is remanded, as are issues regarding TDIU.

The Veteran's ankle disabilities have been rated at the minimum compensable level of 10 percent for each ankle. The VA examinations show moderate disability in both ankles, but no higher rating is warranted as there is no evidence of more than moderate limitation of motion or functional loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's respiratory disability, diagnosed as asthma, is related to active service and grants service connection for this condition. The right ankle disability issue remains pending due to a lack of a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes, kidney disorder, left leg disorder, and various other conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service. The Veteran's diabetes was not incurred in service and her kidney and left leg disorders are not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (including generalized anxiety disorder, hidradenitis, right ankle injury with degenerative changes, and anal fistula) are deemed to be the primary basis for his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. His combined rating is 80 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including translation of Spanish documents and potential extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his right ankle disability and service-connected right knee and right hip disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings and an earlier effective date were denied. The appeal regarding the lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, right shoulder sprain, left ankle sprain, allergic rhinitis, and tension headaches is pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to her military service, and therefore denies all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder is denied as the evidence does not support the presence of such a disability.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities. The claims of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability, increased rating for left knee disability, and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining outstanding military personnel records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder, left knee disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and right lower extremity disability (including ankle).