Ankle decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left ankle disabilities are directly related to an in-service parachute accident, resulting in service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right ankle disability and an opinion on whether his current right knee disability is secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his left ankle disability and opinions regarding secondary service connection for his left knee disorder and bilateral hip disorder.

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

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from Chelsea Naval Hospital and scheduling VA examinations to determine the current nature of any right knee and ankle disabilities. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of private medical expenses incurred on October 6, 2015 was denied as the condition did not qualify as a medical emergency and therefore does not meet the criteria for reimbursement under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for an appendectomy scar and denied service connection for a left foot/ankle condition.

The Veteran's right ankle, bilateral knee, and left foot disabilities have caused his clothing to wear out faster due to the use of supportive appliances. The Board has found that reasonable doubt should be resolved in favor of the Veteran, granting an annual clothing allowance for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle fracture, left knee strain, and right knee strain disabilities have been rated as 10 percent each. The Board finds that these ratings are appropriate given the evidence of record.,The Veteran's left hand nerve damage disability has not warranted a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right and left ankle disability is dismissed as a matter of law.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum available rating for limitation of motion. The left ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent due to marked limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right ankle disability was permanently aggravated by his active military service. The claim will be reconsidered after this development.

The Veteran does not have a right ankle disability and his left great toe hallux valgus had its onset during service. Service connection for the left great toe hallux valgus is granted, but there are no compensable ratings assigned for the scars on the left hand fingers and elbow.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right ankle disability is not attributable to active duty and thus denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus was manifested by no worse than severe impairment, with marked pronation, pain on use and manipulation, swelling on use, and extreme tenderness of the plantar surfaces. The condition resulted in significant functional impairments primarily due to pain, including limitations on standing, walking, and various physically demanding tasks. The Veteran's symptoms were not relieved by orthopedic shoes or appliances.

The Veteran's service connection claim for headaches is granted. The Veteran's traumatic arthritis of the right ankle is currently rated at 20 percent and a higher rating is denied.

The Board has found that additional development is required before the claims on appeal are decided, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disability. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hip, knee, and ankle disabilities remain inextricably intertwined with the issue of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right ankle disabilities, as any current conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.