Ankle decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis of the left ankle is not attributable to disease or injury sustained during his period of service and was not manifest within one year of separation from service. The Veteran's left ankle degenerative arthritis was not caused by or permanently made worse by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for left elbow, left shoulder, and bilateral ankle disabilities. The evidence received does not relate these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for anal or rectal disability, bilateral hearing loss, and right ankle disability have all been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's non-ischemic cardiomyopathy is not related to his service, and thus denied this claim. The remaining issues of bilateral ankle disorder, left knee strain, and right knee arthritis are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his mental health conditions and physical disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for ankle disabilities due to a lack of STRs and incomplete medical records. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a local hearing with the Decision Review Officer (DRO). The issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and right ankle disability are pending.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for residuals of a right ankle fracture was granted, but service connection for sleep apnea and colorectal cancer was denied.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to additional evidence received since April 2012, and a videoconference hearing is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to his active service and grants this claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left and right ankle disabilities are related to his service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for a left ankle disability and a left knee disability, both considered presumptive due to undiagnosed illness related to her service in the Southwest Asia Theater of operations during the Gulf War.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disorder, right shoulder disorder, and right ankle disorder. The evidence did not support finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left ankle sprain and chronic residuals of a fracture of the left little finger, middle phalanx.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the ankles results in occasional incapacitating exacerbations, warranting a disability rating of 20 percent.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated as 20% disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran was also found to be unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to June 16, 2009 due to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral ankle disability and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed for the Veteran's left ankle and right middle finger disabilities due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle injury and lung disorder, including COPD. The VA examiners concluded that there was insufficient medical evidence to link these conditions to service or any other relevant factors.