Ankle decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for his service-connected right shoulder and right ankle disabilities have been withdrawn by the appellant's representative.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA examinations and attempting to obtain private treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, and he is now entitled to a disability rating of 20 percent for his right ankle scars.

The Board has remanded the case due to a hearing request not being followed up. The Veteran's claims for service connection for various arthritis conditions in multiple joints are on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for VA examinations and additional development of records.

The Board finds that the Veteran's residuals of a healed left ankle fracture are not related to service and denies his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is manifested by decreased range of motion, pain, and swelling supporting markedly limited motion with no ankylosis. The criteria for a disability rating of 20 percent for the right ankle disability have been met.

The Veteran is eligible for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities, which involve both lower extremities and cause a loss of use so severe that it precludes locomotion without the regular and constant use of assistive devices.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was not incurred in active service and the Board finds that service connection for a right ankle disability is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability and its impact on any claimed left foot, ankle, and low back disorders. The AOJ will also consider all functional limitations resulting from his service-connected left knee throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for an epididymal cyst has been granted. Service connection is also established for hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's right ankle sprains are currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left wrist disability and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for hypertensive vascular disease with hypertension and osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees, ankles, and wrists. As a result, the claims are dismissed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's private medical records related to his claimed conditions. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple issues has been granted, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board also found that the Veteran's back disability is related to his in-service examination, and his right and left knee disabilities are secondary to his back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, or a shoulder disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for her left and right ankle Achilles tendinopathy, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition and left ear hearing loss have been denied. The Board found no current evidence of the claimed conditions, with the exception of the Veteran's credible reports of difficulty hearing in his left ear.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.