Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's left ankle disability, which included a fracture and degenerative joint disease, was rated at 10 percent prior to June 28, 2016. The VA determined that the condition warranted an increased rating to 20 percent as of that date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been granted. He is now entitled to a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for his back condition, and service connection for his right ankle condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the residuals of a right Achilles tendon injury and reopened the claim for service connection for a left wrist disability. The Veteran's right ankle disability is considered to be related to his inservice injury, while the left wrist disability may also be linked to an in-service injury.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issues of entitlement to a compensable initial rating for calcific tendinitis of the left shoulder and entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right ankle instability, left ankle instability, and bilateral pes planus with bilateral calcaneal spurs contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death. The Board finds that these conditions alone are sufficient for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1310.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is considered a subsequent manifestation of his already service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with osteoarthritis.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability and found that the Veteran's current left knee condition is at least as likely as not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right knee disability. The claims for PTSD, sleep apnea, and right ankle disability were withdrawn by the Veteran prior to decision.

The Veteran's sinusitis is found to be related to her active service.,Her right hip strain and degenerative joint disease with sciatic nerve involvement are found to be secondary to her service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine.,Her left ankle strain, osteoarthritis, and osteopenia are found to be secondary to her service-connected bilateral pes planus.,Her left shoulder strain and osteoarthrosis are found to be secondary to her service-connected cervical spine stenosis with degenerative disc disease.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected right and left ankle disabilities were granted effective from June 24, 2013. The RO found that the increase in severity of the disabilities occurred after the date of receipt of the claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including cervical spine, lumbar spine, right shoulder, hip and knee conditions, ankle, wrist, plantar fasciitis, and migraine headaches have been granted. The claim for psychiatric disability was denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 27, 2007, for a 10 percent rating for service-connected left ankle disability is denied as there was no formal or informal claim before this date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, degenerative joint disease of the right hip, left hip, right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, cervical spine, and lumbar spine. However, it has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), chest pain, and left ankle disability. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected cyclothymic disorder with insomnia is granted, and he is assigned a 10 percent rating effective July 3, 1997. The Veteran's muscle spasms and joint pain are found to be due to his service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral shoulder degenerative joint disease, bilateral lateral epicondylitis, and ORIF of the right ankle.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right ankle disability, as well as the need for a statement of the case on the denial of service connection for a right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for various conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of any unadjudicated formal or informal claim prior to July 5, 2007.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 60 percent, and he is granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied an extraschedular rating for right ankle instability based on the combined impact of multiple service-connected disabilities.