Ankle Board decisions

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.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% prior to August 3, 2017. The TDIU claim was not granted due to the presence of a non-compensable shrapnel wound to the right ankle.

The Board found that the Veteran's muscle and joint pain, including bilateral hip and ankle degenerative joint disease, were not due to service or any other compensable condition. The separate claim for an ankle disability was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus with an effective date of December 3, 2009. The Veteran's claims for other disabilities are denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right ankle disability is related to his service and remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, including for a left ankle disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for both a left foot disorder and a left ankle disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for prostate condition, right ankle disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) have been withdrawn. The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is due to his own willful misconduct.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings and earlier effective dates for his service-connected tinnitus was denied as there is no legal basis for a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent or an effective date prior to August 21, 2013. The Veteran does not have other disabilities that would warrant separate evaluations.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle arthritis and arthrodesis with internal fixation qualify for SMC since October 1, 2010, due to being housebound.,However, the extension of his 100% evaluation past October 1, 2010, was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a need for convalescence following surgery.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not incur a right ankle fracture or other right ankle injury in service, and thus does not have current residuals of an in-service right ankle fracture. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disability is presumed to be related to his active service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board has denied all service connection claims as the evidence does not establish a nexus between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, left knee, and right ankle disabilities do not warrant ratings greater than 10 percent under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims for a low back disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, and gout and arthritis of multiple joints to obtain additional VA examinations and opinions. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the referred petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability.