Ankle decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his lumbar spine condition, right knee enthesopathy and osteoarthritis, and right ankle sprain was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected conditions and exposure to herbicides. The Board has determined that a new examination is needed for the peripheral neuropathy, left foot and ankle disorders, and left foot gout claims due to inconsistencies in previous opinions and lack of adequate examinations.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has been rated as noncompensable (0 percent) throughout the appeal period due to lack of limitation of motion or functional loss. The Board finds that her current range of motion does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5271.

The Board found that the Veteran's DJD of the left shoulder was not incurred in service and is not related to his military service.,The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's bilateral posterior calcaneal spurs are less likely than not caused by his in-service right ankle injuries.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a temporary total rating for convalescence for right ankle surgery prior to November 29, 2011 and an extension of such benefits after May 31, 2012. The claim for a compensable initial rating for hypertension was also denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury, muscle contraction headaches, headache disorder (including migraine headaches), elbow and forearm disorder, wrist and hand disorder, bilateral hip disorder, bilateral foot disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, sleep apnea, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for service connection in any of these cases.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for the claimed conditions, including calcaneal spur of the right ankle and neuropathy of both lower extremities. The Veteran's symptoms were not shown during active service or within presumptive periods, and there is insufficient medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted an initial 20 percent rating for the Veteran's right ankle strain, effective August 27, 2011. A higher rating is not warranted at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to failure to explain substantial compliance with the remand directives. The case will be returned for further consideration.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for his service-connected Reiter's Syndrome was denied as the combined disability rating for disabilities of his left lower extremity cannot exceed 60 percent due to the 'amputation rule'.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection of right ankle and low back disabilities, as well as seeking increased ratings for fibromyalgia and reactive airway disease. The Board is dismissing these matters.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as he failed to submit the requested information needed to properly adjudicate his claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have its onset in service and granted service connection. The right hand and left ankle disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical and lumbar spine conditions, as well as service connection for neurological damage to the arms and legs, bilateral hip disability, bilateral ankle disability, and osteoarthritis of the knees are denied.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral shoulder disability or bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board has determined that there is no evidence of a right leg disability, to include right knee degenerative joint disease, incurred in or caused by military service. The Veteran also did not meet the criteria for an increased rating for his peripheral vascular disease and gout with arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted with an effective date of August 8, 2011. The Board found that the November 2007 rating decision denying service connection for a left ankle disorder did not contain CUE and denied reopening the claim for a left ankle disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left ankle disorder, and right ring finger fracture have been granted. The Veteran is assigned a 10 percent rating for his left ankle disorder and no higher ratings are available under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection of left and right knee disabilities was granted. The claim for an increased rating for a left ankle sprain remains denied.