Ankle decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left ankle fracture is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA orthopedic examination.

The Veteran's muscle and joint pain of the ankles and hands, diagnosed as fibromyalgia, is granted service connection due to it being a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness incurred in Southwest Asia during his Persian Gulf War service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period prior to January 5, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right eye disorder clearly and unmistakably existed prior to active service and was not aggravated by active service. Therefore, service connection for a right eye disorder is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional information regarding his service in the U.S. Army Reserves and further development of his left knee disability.

The Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis of the spine, is granted. The Veteran does not have current diagnoses for a left wrist disability, right wrist disability, or right foot disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury, tinnitus, and bilateral knee disorders is granted. However, the appeals for left ankle injury and bilateral knee conditions are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability has been rated at 10 percent since June 6, 2012. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current functional limitations.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as her claims for service connection and increased ratings are not supported by the evidence of record. The Board finds that she does not have a current hearing loss disability, and her lumbar spine disability has not met the criteria for higher ratings at any point during the period of her appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records. The initial rating for his left ankle disability remains under review.

The Board has granted service connection for Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine and Degenerative Joint Disease of the Left Ankle.,Service connection is also granted for bilateral foot disorder, including plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was incurred in service and aggravated by his military duties. The Board finds that the evidence supports a grant of service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or causation for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's complete service personnel records and any outstanding VA treatment records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral foot, ankle, and knee disabilities had their onsets during service. As a result, the claims for these conditions are granted.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for a higher rating for PTSD, service connection for a left ankle disability, and TDIU. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of total social impairment or an injury related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the bilateral feet, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus. The claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of onset in service or within one year of separation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of the feet, ankles, knees, or respiratory system that are related to his military service. The preponderance of evidence fails to establish any present disability as a result of service.

The Veteran's back disability is service connected and his right ankle disability, which was productive of marked ankle disability, warrants a 30 percent rating since February 28, 2007.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.