Ankle decisions — 2017

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left foot disability and an increased rating for his left ankle disability. The Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for his left ankle disability effective June 19, 2007, and a 30 percent rating effective February 1, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including skin disease, right shoulder disorder, elbow disorder, low back disorder, knee disorders, left ankle disorder, foot disorders, pulmonary disorder, and heart disorder. The decision found that new evidence did not reopen the claim of skin disease, and that none of the other conditions were related to service or a pre-existing disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed low back, bilateral hip, left knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities are not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's basic eligibility for specially adapted housing was denied as he does not meet the criteria due to his service-connected disabilities. The case is remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing on the issue of entitlement to automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining results of an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and other relevant VA treatment records. The right ankle claim may require a medical opinion regarding whether the foot condition stems from the same injury as the ankle condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle condition is related to an in-service fracture and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for multiple myeloma is granted due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The claims for right ear hearing loss and left ankle disabilities are denied, while the claims for left ear hearing loss and right ankle disabilities are pending further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's alcohol use at the time of his November 2004 motor vehicle accident was a form of self-medication due to his service-connected PTSD. Therefore, service connection is granted for right foot/ankle disability and post-operative residuals of an abdominal injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for denying a higher rating, specifically regarding functional loss due to pain and during flare-ups. The Veteran's right ankle disability is being requested to be evaluated again with consideration of these factors.

The Veteran's left ankle Achilles tendon tear disability is shown to be manifested by marked limited motion of the ankle, warranting a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a left ankle disability. The appeal of these three issues is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral knee, left ankle, and right shoulder disabilities are service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities. The combined rating was found insufficient to meet the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal before a decision was made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection and potential aggravation of his conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle and knee disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is capable of sedentary employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, consistent with his education and work experience.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for post-operative right knee and ankle disabilities were denied by the Board. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability warrants an initial rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for the entire initial rating period on appeal.