Ankle decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of left wrist, hand, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities have been dismissed as he withdrew these claims in November 2015. The right hand disability (diagnosed as degenerative joint disease) has been granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral knee conditions (left and right), left ankle condition, and hypertension are all service-connected based on direct evidence.

The Board has ordered additional development regarding the Veteran's TDIU claim, including obtaining employment information and a VA examination to assess his occupational impairment due to service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and reopening service connection have been denied. The Board found that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim or was cumulative of previously submitted evidence.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent for limitation of motion, and a separate 20 percent evaluation is granted for manifestations other than limitation of motion.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for left ankle DJD and left knee DJD, as well as the claim for a TDIU rating were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his claimed bilateral shoulder, ankle, and foot disorders. The Board will consider these issues again after receiving updated opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder and right ankle disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The claim for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment for which he would otherwise be qualified.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, nephritis with nephrolithiasis, tinnitus, tendonitis of the right and left ankles, and hemorrhoids, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left ankle disabilities due to a lack of medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to service-connected disabilities or if they were caused by service-connected disabilities. The AOJ is also directed to refer the issue of increased evaluations on an extra-schedular basis for service-connected impotence and headaches for consideration.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for eczema was granted, but his claims for service connection of a left ankle disability and TDIU were denied.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at the highest available rating for limitation of motion. The appeal is denied as there are no alternative diagnostic codes applicable and the current schedular evaluation adequately describes his disability level.

The Veteran claims service connection for his current right foot and ankle degenerative joint disease, which he asserts was caused by an injury during active duty in 1983. The VA examiner opined that the arthritis is at least as likely as not caused by or a result of this injury. However, the periods of ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA are unverified.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for his service-connected right femur fracture and left ankle fractures are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations, the need for additional development of records, and the requirement for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU benefits are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the criteria for TDIU have not been met.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hallux valgus and right ankle conditions did not exist prior to service, but were not aggravated by service.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hallux valgus with bunions and residuals of a right ankle sprain have been denied as they are not established.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Army Reserve service dates and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims of right knee disability, left ankle disability, and hysterectomy are being reviewed.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal, thus the case is dismissed.