Ankle decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his left ankle disability and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of ankylosis in the ankle joint, which would warrant a higher rating. For TDIU, the claim was denied due to lack of cooperation with VA's attempts to develop the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for otitis media of the left ear and bilateral foot and ankle disabilities, as well as his TDIU claim and request for an extraschedular rating. The decision is final due to a previous denial in January 1969.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability, an increased rating for PTSD, and a compensable rating for gynecological disability were all denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current right ankle disability or any other condition related to military service. For PTSD, the Board noted that while the Veteran had significant symptoms consistent with PTSD, her occupational and social impairment did not meet the criteria for an increased rating beyond 50 percent. For gynecological disability, the Board found that there was no indication of a current disability warranting a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, were denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was not granted as the disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left ankle sprain, as well as to obtain outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate his right ankle disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury and kidney disability, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right foot disability claim was denied as a matter of law due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations, while the right ankle disability claim resulted in a denial based on lack of evidence showing marked limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the right ankle is denied as there is no current diagnosis of this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder condition, right ankle condition, and chipped tooth have been reopened. The Board finds new and material evidence to support these claims and remands them for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a central skeletal system condition, including fibromyalgia or conditions of the shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, or feet, has been denied as there is no current diagnosis and no evidence of an undiagnosed illness. The Veteran is also not entitled to TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that they were not related to active duty service and did not qualify as undiagnosed illnesses due to exposure in Southwest Asia. The Veteran's reports of daily loose stools since 1990 were deemed unreliable.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are found to be secondary to his service-connected Achilles tendon disability.,The Veteran's bilateral hip disabilities are also found to be secondary to his service-connected Achilles tendon disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate reasoning in the examination reports and incomplete medical records. The Veteran will be provided with updated VA examinations to determine if his disabilities are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, right ankle, lumbar spine DJD, left knee DJD, right hip condition, and residuals of a left pelvis fracture are caused by his service-connected residuals of a right foot fracture.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for various conditions, but denied them on the merits.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing degenerative joint disease of the left ankle did not permanently worsen beyond its natural progression during his June 2007 period of ACDUTRA service, and thus denied service connection for a left lower extremity disability, to include an ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, and he is now entitled to a temporary total disability rating for convalescent purposes following surgery for fungus infection of the feet from March 1, 2010 to April 1, 2010.

The Veteran's initial rating for right ankle sprain is denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Separate increased ratings of 10 percent are granted for painful supination and extension of the right elbow prior to April 28, 2016. Ratings in excess of 10 percent are denied for both conditions since that date.,Ratings in excess of 10 percent are denied for tendonitis and carpal metacarpal arthritis, right thumb since April 28, 2016.