Ankle decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA and private treatment records. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service to consider whether an extra-schedular rating is warranted for his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Veteran's low back disability was granted a 40 percent rating effective August 10, 2017. The left ankle sprain and GERD were each granted increased ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to service or service-connected conditions, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of his claims regarding right ankle degenerative joint disease with chronic sprains, as well as secondary service connection claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder and thoracolumbar spine disorder. Specifically, VA examinations are required to clarify the nature of any current disorders and their etiology.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine myositis, bilateral shoulder tendinitis, and bilateral ankle arthritis. However, the VA examiner concluded that these conditions are less likely than not related to his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of her service-connected left ankle and bilateral foot disabilities, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling new examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in the examination reports and because it is unclear whether the examinations sufficiently reflect the current severity of his service-connected left knee and right ankle disabilities.

The Veteran is granted a 10 percent evaluation for his left ankle disability prior to October 17, 2011. He remains entitled to an initial compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is characterized by marked limitation of motion, and the Board has determined that a rating of 20 percent, but no more, is warranted for this condition.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, characterized by marked limitation of motion, is now rated at 20 percent effective May 15, 2010.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for his bilateral ankle and foot conditions, as the March 2012 VA examiner did not consider all of the Veteran's in-service complaints and recent lay statements.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, originally claimed as PTSD, is not related to or caused by any event in service.,The right ankle disability was also determined to be unrelated to events in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle and knee disorders as well as a lower back disorder are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide an updated opinion from the VA examiner.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and foot disorder have been reopened, but further development is needed to address the merits of these claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) remains pending.

The Veteran's disability, residual scars and left ankle fracture, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the ratings for right ankle and shoulder conditions, as well as his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected as it did not manifest within one year of separation from service and there is no evidence linking the current condition to in-service noise exposure.,There is insufficient credible evidence to establish a nexus between the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral wrist disability and his active duty service. The Veteran reported that he had wrist pain related to his duties as a teletype operator, but did not seek medical treatment for it during service.,The Veteran also does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral ankle disability linked to service. He testified that he sprained his ankles due to jumping off the tank and marching on rough terrain in service.

The Veteran's hypertension and left ankle disability are being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current level of severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left ankle disability was granted an increased rating of 20 percent, but the surgical scar associated with his postoperative Achilles tendon rupture remains at a noncompensable rating.