Ankle decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if current diagnoses can be provided for the claimed low back, right and left knee, and right and left ankle conditions, and if so, whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left ankle disability have been granted service connection, with the left ankle disability receiving a 20% rating prior to May 19, 2017 and an increased rating of 20% thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were remanded, but the effective date of his grant of a 10% rating for bilateral pes planus remains November 3, 2011.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis. The Board found that there is no evidence linking this condition to active service or any incident of service.

The Veteran's claim for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance and necessary adaptive equipment is denied as he does not meet the eligibility criteria due to lack of loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet or hands, or permanent impairment of vision of both eyes.

The Board has determined that the appellant's right ankle disability is not etiologically related to her service, and therefore denied her claim.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and his other service-connected conditions do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left ankle tendonitis are related to his service-connected bilateral knee conditions, thus granting service connection for these disabilities.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for his left ankle condition, which was already in place since the date of service connection, is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's COPD, hypertension, venous insufficiency, and other respiratory, skin, ankle, foot, knee, and erectile dysfunction conditions are not service-connected as they were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability in his right ankle or right shoulder, and therefore service connection is not warranted for these conditions. The left ankle issue remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for the Veteran's left ankle disorder, as it was not caused or aggravated by his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to rate her SLE and its residuals at the highest possible level without impermissible pyramiding.

The Veteran's service connection claim for aphthous ulcers was granted, with the Board finding that his military service is at least partly the cause of his mouth ulcers.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his left ankle and right wrist and hand disabilities.

The Board has determined that a more contemporaneous examination is needed for the Veteran's right ankle disability, and a VA examination is required to determine if her right knee disability is secondary to her service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of his claimed right and left ankle and foot disabilities, hernia, ileus status post-laparoscopic incisional repair, and acute cholecystitis and sepsis with bacteremia.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of a 20 percent disability rating for a tender scar below naval was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence within one year prior to September 24, 2013 indicating an increase in severity.,The Veteran's claim for an increased initial rating for her lower back disability was denied. The Board determined that the current level of disability does not warrant a higher rating based on the criteria set forth in the Rating Schedule.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial increased rating for right knee chondromalacia patella, service connection for a left ankle disability and bilateral flat feet with corns, as well as entitlement to TDIU due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to consider all relevant evidence.