Ankle decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, skin disability, fatigue, bilateral foot and elbow disabilities, right ankle disability, bilateral hand disability, and bilateral knee disability are denied. The effective date of service connection for PTSD is July 22, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for urinary incontinence and obesity, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability. The increased ratings for left knee strain and left ankle disability have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current extent and severity of his left ankle disability and an opinion on whether hypertension is related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for obstructive sleep apnea disability. The Veteran's right ankle disability is denied as service connection cannot be established due to lack of in-service manifestation or link between current disability and service. Service connection for chronic headache disability remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, thus granting a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist disability is rated at 40 percent, effective August 31, 2009. The appeal for rheumatoid arthritis was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle sprain, with an effective date of December 28, 2009. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a right leg scar were also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute substantially to his death. The VA medical expert concluded that none of the Veteran's service-connected conditions were risk factors for his death.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has been rated as 10 percent for the period prior to March 7, 2006; 30 percent from May 1, 2006, to March 31, 2009; and in excess of 40 percent thereafter. The Veteran is entitled to receipt of VA outpatient dental treatment.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues involving increased ratings for right ankle sprain, herpes simplex and atopic dermatitis, duodenal bulb ulcers and reflux esophagitis prior to February 6, 2015, tinea pedis, and the appeals to reopen claims of service connection for low back pain, phimosis, right knee disorder, chest pain, and anemia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cellulitis with lymphedema of the left foot/ankle was caused by his service-connected left foot fracture, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his level of education and occupational experience, and the Board finds that he is unemployable due to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disorder and benign prostatic hypertrophy are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for a neck disability and bilateral ankle disability is not supported by the evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of left or right ankle disabilities and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left leg disabilities result in loss of use of the left lower extremity due to residuals of an injury which so affects the functions of balance or propulsion as to preclude locomotion without the aid of a cane.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches and recurrent left ankle sprain are attributable to service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to outstanding records from his military service. The VA is instructed to obtain morning reports, after action reports or casualty reports for the period of January to March 1970, as well as any hospitalization records from Cam Ranh Bay.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for a left knee disability, but has granted service connection for a left ankle disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone did not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or confine him substantially to his dwelling and immediate premises.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful activity doing sedentary work consistent with his educational background, work experience, and training.