Ankle decisions — 2018

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. For the period following April 14, 2014, a 40 percent disability rating for post traumatic arthritis, left ankle, status post dislocation is granted. The claim for TDIU is denied as there are no service-connected disabilities rated at least 40% combined to meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic cervical spine pain/chronic myositis paracervical spine muscles, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, degenerative joint disease of the bilateral elbows, ankles, shoulders, knees, wrists, and hips, and dyslipidemia have been remanded due to a need for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been evaluated based on their direct effects and not through any presumptive or secondary theories. The initial evaluations for the ankle disabilities, lumbar strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, left leg sciatica, patella femoral syndromes, and costochondritis are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and VA/privately obtained treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle strain and tendon repair disability is related to his military service, granting service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, left knee, right knee, bilateral hip, and right foot conditions have been reopened. The claim for service connection for a back condition has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee condition is related to his service, specifically parachute jumping. Therefore, service connection for djd of both knees is granted. However, there is no evidence of a diagnosed ankle condition during or after service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination. The issues of higher initial ratings for right ankle tendonitis and left ankle tendonitis are being addressed, as well as consideration of TDIU.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of service connection. The low back disability has been granted as service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, foot disorders, knee disorders, ankle disorder, and headache disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence of a direct relationship between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability, characterized as chronic right ankle sprain, warrants a rating of 10 percent and not higher. The evidence does not support a finding of marked limitation of motion or any other condition warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of February 1, 2011, for the grants of service connection for multiple disabilities.,The Veteran is granted an effective date of May 6, 2013, for the grant of a 10 percent rating for psoriasis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right ankle, foot and great toe disabilities as well as an increased rating for a right elbow disability were granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic back condition during service and insufficient medical opinion to establish a nexus between his current back disability and active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than June 24, 2010 for the initial grant of service connection for pseudo folliculitis barbae and for an initial compensable rating for right foot tinea pedis have been withdrawn. The claim for a higher rating for right wrist osteoarthritis with distal ulnar styloid fracture was also withdrawn.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, as secondary to service-connected disabilities were not addressed due to the withdrawal of these issues.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain residuals disability, including arthritis, tendinosis, and chronic ligament tears, is manifested by marked limitation of motion, instability, pain with weight-bearing, crepitus, and functional loss. The Board has granted an increased initial rating of 20 percent for the entire appellate period.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities. The RO also granted initial ratings of 20% for each of the Veteran's ankles, effective June 8, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a combined rating are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for right ankle, left ankle, and right knee disabilities. The Veteran's claim for periodontal disease (for both compensation and treatment purposes) was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or dental trauma during service.