Ankle decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and verifying National Guard service dates. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after this development.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn and are dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of all his appeals.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for residuals, fracture, right ankle, with degenerative arthritis of the ankle joints has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's left ankle fracture with heel spurs and chronic right ankle strain have been rated, and a 10 percent rating has been granted for the left ankle fracture. The scars associated with the left ankle surgery are not compensable.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claim for service connection of a bilateral ankle disability. The Board found that the Veteran does not have any diagnosed disabilities related to his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle disability is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed and the case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and low back disability, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities have been rated as 10% each, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The claims for increased ratings are denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee, right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities were not incurred in service. The evidence did not support a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's current right ankle disability is characterized by moderate limitation of motion, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5271.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has been characterized by marked limitation of motion, pain, and difficulty standing or walking for extended periods. The Board finds that the criteria for an increased rating of 20 percent have been met.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his claims for increased ratings for left ankle and testicle varicocele conditions were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and a supplemental VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of his sleep apnea. Additionally, he needs to undergo another VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for TDIU, but his employment history and current job do not show he is unemployable due to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's ankle, knee, hip and back disabilities are not service-connected or related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus with metatarsalgia.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depression, left ankle disability (status post fracture), and left hip bursitis, have rendered him unemployable for the entire rating period from September 7, 2007. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disorder renders him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot and ankle condition, to include plantar fasciitis, residual of stress fractures is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his current conditions are related to military service.