Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals are being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess his left shoulder, right ankle, and skin disabilities. The claims will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left shoulder disorder, as well as his claims for increased evaluations of multiple shell fragment wound scars on various parts of the body, were granted. The effective date is February 24, 2000.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for SMC based on Aid and Attendance/Housebound was dismissed. The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC based on a total disability rating for a single disability and additional disabilities rated at 60 percent or more due to his combined service-connected disabilities not meeting the required percentage.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a chronic right knee or right hip disability, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including the association of SSA records and additional VA examinations to evaluate his current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a TBI and/or residuals thereof, right ankle disorder, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and esophageal disorder have been denied. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and determine if there are any characteristic prostrating attacks related to his migraine headaches.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle and foot disorders. This includes obtaining medical records, conducting a VA examination, and determining if there are any other issues related to the veteran's claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability and any right ankle disability. The TDIU issue remains inextricably intertwined with the left knee rating issue.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the issues of increased evaluations for his bilateral plantar fasciitis are also denied.,Service connection for coronary artery disease and testicular cancer was not granted as they were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the appellant's current left ankle and foot disability did not manifest in service or is otherwise etiologically related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied as there is no additional disability shown resulting from VA medical care.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for gout of the right ankle and COPD have been denied. The VA has determined that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for gout or a rating in excess of 10 percent for COPD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA examinations and adjudicating his temporary total disability rating claim.

The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective November 2, 2008. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral elbow, wrist, hand, and ankle disabilities are at least as likely as not due to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a current bilateral foot or right ankle disability, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.