Ankle decisions — 2017

The Board denied service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current ankle disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for appropriate examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiologies of the Veteran's gouty arthritis and a review of his VA treatment records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative tear of the medial meniscus and tear of the lateral meniscus with degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The Board dismissed this issue.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at the highest possible level (20%) due to marked limitation of motion. He does not meet criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of a spinal cord injury, left knee disorder, right foot disorder, or right ankle disorder related to his period of active duty. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for morbid obesity, as well as his claims for an effective date prior to May 30, 2003, and TDIU are all granted. The Veteran is also assigned a 80% disability rating for arthritis of the right knee.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as a back disability, have been denied due to the lack of current diagnoses.

The Veteran's TBI was found to be related to service, and he is now granted service connection for a traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The left ankle scar is rated at 10 percent prior to April 30, 2010 and 10 percent as of that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a low back disability, left knee disability, or left ankle disability that had its onset during active service or within the one year presumptive period. The VA examinations and other evidence do not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle injury residuals and bilateral pes planus in April 1979, finding no residuals from the in-service injury and noting that current symptoms were not related to active service.,The Veteran's death was attributed to acute ethanol intoxication. The VA examiner concluded there is less than a 50% probability that his service-connected duodenal ulcer with deformity and irritable bulb contributed to his death.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's National Guard service records and VA/Non-VA medical records. The claims for bilateral foot, right hip, and low back disabilities require remand for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to recent caselaw requiring a new examination for range of motion testing. The Veteran's right ankle disability rating is being reviewed.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether the Veteran's right ankle disability was aggravated during service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his ankle disabilities were denied. The Board found no evidence of frostbite residuals or other service-connected conditions that could account for the Veteran's current symptoms, and concluded that the preponderance of the evidence was against these claims.