Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, as there is at least a 50% likelihood it was caused by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records and the need for a VA examination to determine if his current right ankle and/or right foot disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right eye disability, but found that it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee, left hip, and right ankle disabilities are related to his active service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic disorder manifested by heart-related chest pain and a chronic bilateral leg/ankle disorder, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions during service or within one year following discharge. The Board also found that any current disorders were not related to service-connected seizure disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disability is fully contemplated by the rating criteria and there is no basis for referral for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims file was lost and is currently being reconstructed. The case is REMANDED to comply with the January 2010 Board Remand directives.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure. The left ankle/foot condition claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee arthritis, post laminectomy syndrome, and residuals of a left ankle disability are all service-connected.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before a decision can be rendered regarding the service connection and increased rating claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including headaches and sinus problems, are granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ankle disorder, left knee disorder, and back disorder on a new and material basis. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypersensitivity to fire ant bites was not granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine disability, bilateral shoulder disability, right ankle disability, restless leg syndrome, diabetes mellitus, Type II, and narcolepsy were denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or a link to military service.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities have been rated at 10 percent since April 28, 2001. Effective March 2, 2017, the Veteran is entitled to a 20 percent rating for each ankle disability due to marked limitation of motion. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder has not been linked to service or any incident thereof and thus does not meet criteria for service connection. The Veteran's TDIU claim has also been denied.

The Veteran's dysaesthesia on dorsum, right foot, has been rated at 30 percent since September 24, 2004. The RO granted a higher rating of 30 percent effective from the date of his claim (January 21, 2004).

The Board has found that new VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right ankle condition and left ear hearing loss. The appeal is REMANDED for these purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic muscular strain low back, depressive disorder, degenerative disease of the right ankle, Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the left knee, tinnitus, arthritis of the right knee, and right ear hearing loss, preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings have been withdrawn.

The Board denied service connection for chronic headaches and TDIU, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's hearing loss evaluations and for issuance of a Statement of the Case on the issues of service connection for hepatitis B, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, pseudo folliculitis barbae, and vertigo.