Ankle decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disorder and a back disorder, both diagnosed as degenerative and arthritic changes.,However, the compensable rating issue for conjunctival injection with left eye nasal pinguecula remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the criteria for a TDIU, as his combined disability rating is at least 40% and he cannot secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a thorough search of her file under all of her names. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left ankle injury in service caused his current chronic left ankle pain. The back disability is not directly related to service, but may be an indirect result of altered weight-bearing and asymmetric gait due to the original service-connected ankle injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate consideration of whether his left elbow and bilateral ankle pain are manifestations of chronic disabilities due to an undiagnosed illness under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Veteran's DM was not shown during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking it to service. The right ankle disorder was not found on examination. The left hip disability and headache were also not found.,DM: Service connection denied as the condition was not present during service and cannot be presumed due to its onset more than a year after service. Right Ankle Disorder: No current disability found, no evidence of inservice injury or disease. Left Hip Disability: No current disability found, no evidence of inservice injury or disease. Headache: Service connection denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder, left ankle (other than sprain and os trigonum disabilities), and bilateral shin symptoms do not constitute a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness. The VA expert opinion concluded it was less likely than not that these symptoms represented a medicably unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claims on appeal can be decided. The Veteran needs to undergo VA examinations for his left foot and left ankle disabilities, and all outstanding treatment records should be obtained.

The Veteran is seeking compensation for additional disabilities resulting from treatment at the Atlanta VA Medical Center and service connection for various conditions. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding her knee disability, a copy of SSA records, and further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new examination to assess his ability to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right wrist scarring is not compensable, but he meets the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ankle disorder did not manifest in service and is not a result of an injury sustained during a period of inactive duty training. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 20 percent for his left and right ankle disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant higher ratings.

The Veteran's right shoulder condition is rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of his claim. The Veteran's residuals of a right ankle fracture are currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as he has already been awarded SMC due to his service-connected brain tumor and other disabilities combined to a 60% rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability and vertigo are not service-connected, with the right ankle finding denied due to lack of in-service treatment or clinical evidence supporting current diagnoses. The Veteran's vertigo is found to be productive of dizziness and occasional staggering throughout the period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has granted an initial 20 percent rating for the Veteran's left ankle disability, effective from the date service connection was granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder, including as secondary to the service-connected bilateral foot disability, was denied. The Board found that there is no current right ankle disability and insufficient evidence linking any past or present right ankle condition to service.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for a skin disability and an abdominal disability, with the evidence being in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service. The Veteran's left ankle condition does not meet the criteria for direct service connection.,Service connection was granted for the Veteran's current skin disability (folliculitis and seborrheic dermatitis) based on continuity of symptomatology since service discharge.