Ankle decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle and low back strain disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to January 27, 2015 or after that date.

The Veteran's DJD of the right ankle has been rated at 10 percent since February 15, 2011. The Board found that for the entire initial rating period from February 15, 2011, the disability was manifested by symptoms such as painful motion and intermittent swelling.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear income and pension eligibility, as well as potential errors in previous calculations. The Veteran's claims for service connection are also pending.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic right and left ankle sprains are currently rated as 10 percent disabling each, effective January 7, 2016. The initial ratings prior to that date remain unchanged.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral ankle condition, finding that new and material evidence has been received.,Service connection is granted for a low back disability and bilateral ankle condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's IBS with rectal bleeding is secondary to his service-connected back disability and grants service connection for this condition. The case is being remanded to obtain additional VA records, request a new examination for the Veteran's back disability, and determine if an extra-schedular rating or TDIU is warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and consideration of his claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete extraschedular consideration. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back disorder, and right knee and ankle disorders. The Veteran's claims were not supported by sufficient evidence to establish the required medical diagnoses or link between current conditions and military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back and right ankle disabilities are not related to his service-connected left ankle disability, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disorder was not present during service and is not related to a service-connected disability. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and an increased rating for migraine headaches. The Veteran was not granted service connection for his claimed conditions, and no effective date is assigned as the ratings are denied.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to support the claim.

The Veteran is currently assigned a 20 percent rating for his right ankle injury residuals.,A separate 10 percent rating has been granted for the right knee, status post meniscectomy. A higher 20 percent rating is warranted from September 8, 2016.,Right knee DJD is rated at a 20 percent since September 8, 2016 and prior to that date, it was rated as 10 percent.,A separate 10 percent rating has been granted for the right knee instability from March 5, 2012.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, characterized by avulsion fracture and arthritis with instability, has been rated at the maximum allowable under current criteria. The Board finds that there is no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal concerning the issues of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for headaches, a neck disability, a head injury, and a right elbow disability, and for entitlement to an increased rating for a disability of little finger on the right hand.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his left ankle, upper gastrointestinal, and dermatitis conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a more contemporaneous examination of his right ankle condition and to ensure that all relevant treatment records are associated with the claims file.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the claims of service connection and rating for his disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, right elbow epicondylitis, recurrent muscle strain of the lumbar spine, residuals of a right ankle strain, residuals of a left ankle strain, and residuals of a cervical spine injury.