Ankle decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left foot disorder is etiologically related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition. However, the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's left ankle disorder was incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's right ankle fracture with scar has been rated as 10 percent disabling since November 30, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the nature, cause, and effect of any mental health disorder the Veteran may have had at the time of his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, right foot disability, and right ankle injury are all related to his service. The appeals for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ankle or left knee disability that is attributable to service. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address the current status of his right foot condition and its relationship to service-connected gout.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various joint conditions, including degenerative arthritis of the back, neck, shoulders, knees, hips, ankles, and elbows/arms are granted. The specific diagnoses include PTSD, right ankle condition, degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder, bilateral knee conditions, bilateral hip conditions, bilateral ankle conditions, and a left elbow/arm condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection for COPD, bilateral ankle disabilities, and vertigo. This includes obtaining missing service treatment records, reviewing deck logs from the USS Guam, scheduling VA examinations, and ensuring all relevant evidence is considered.

The Veteran's left leg disability, resulting from a service-connected tibia and fibula fracture with degenerative changes in the ankle, is rated at 30 percent effective November 29, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and readjudicating the claim.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has been granted a 20 percent rating since November 19, 2008.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including gathering of records and scheduling of VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from September 5, 2012. The appeal is now remanded for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU prior to that date.

The Board found that the Veteran's left foot and ankle disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has determined that his claim for TDIU is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the Veteran's reports of worsening service-connected conditions. The issues on appeal include a claim for an increased evaluation for lumbosacral strain, a request for a compensable evaluation for right ankle sprain, and a TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his right ankle disability. The case will be returned to the Board after this additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for chondromalacia patella of the right knee with degenerative changes, arthritis of the right ankle, and DDD of the lumbar spine with collapsed discs. The Veteran's claims for other disorders are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ankle disorder and his bilateral tinea unguium of the toenails affects less than 5 percent of his total body area. The Veteran's impairment of the right thigh due to osteoarthritis warrants an initial compensable rating, but limitation of flexion of the right thigh due to osteoarthritis does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracic and lumbar strain, claimed as middle and lower back disorder. The cervical strain and bilateral ankle strain claims have been denied.