Ankle decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain missing private treatment records and issue an SOC for the claims of service connection.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating as there is no evidence of ankylosis, malunion, astralagectomy, marked limited motion, or functional equivalent thereof.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed and the case is being remanded to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus was related to his active duty service and granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's left foot/ankle disability, specifically concerning her periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination to assess his left ankle disability. The examiner must also provide opinions on whether the service-connected left ankle disability at least as likely as not aggravated the right hip disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder strain, right wrist strain, and right ankle strain are related to his military service.,Service connection is granted for a right shoulder condition/right shoulder strain, a right wrist condition/right wrist sprain, and a right ankle condition/right ankle strain.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected post-operative residuals of a left ankle and foot fracture with arthritis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating, as there is no evidence of ankylosis or actual loss of use of the foot.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's preexisting right ankle disability was clearly and unmistakably not aggravated during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the underlying claims remain denied.,Effective November 4, 2013, the Veteran is now entitled to compensation for his claimed conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee and ankle disabilities are not related to his military service, specifically noting a lack of documented treatment despite reported symptoms.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ankle disability is less likely than not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle lateral malleolus fracture, and also less likely due to a direct relationship with his military service. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection for the right ankle disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disorder is service-connected, based on a diagnosis of osteoarthritic changes during his active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disability did not originate in service and is not otherwise etiologically related to service. The VA examiners found no evidence of a nexus between the current left ankle condition and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected calcaneal spur of the left ankle has been rated at 20 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on the evidence showing marked limitation of motion without ankylosis or other significant functional impairment.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service-connected pes planus caused his current arthritis in his ankles, knees, right hip, and low back. The neck disability is not considered secondary to the service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's use of left knee and left foot/ankle braces, as well as his back brace, caused more damage to clothing than one brace alone. The right knee brace was denied because the Veteran is not service-connected for any right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder, finding that it is not etiologically related to service or due to or aggravated by her service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining new VA examinations and retrieving any outstanding medical treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional service treatment records and a new VA examination. The right ankle condition claim will be reconsidered, while the major depressive disorder rating claim will require further review.