Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral ankle arthritis was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, may not be presumed to have been so incurred, and is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a new VA examination to address service connection and rating issues.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of a neck condition and dystonia during his February 2017 Board hearing. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The reduction in disability rating from 20 percent to 10 percent was upheld, but the Veteran withdrew his claims for PTSD and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD cannot be granted due to lack of verified in-service stressors. The left ankle disability is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip disability is secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and grants service connection for this condition. The issue of whether the Veteran's bilateral ankle disability is also secondary to his service-connected bilateral hip disability remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including skin disorders, hypertension, COPD, arthritis of the right ankle, and gout. The VA examiner opined that these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for undiagnosed right ankle and foot joint pain, which is characterized as a qualifying chronic disability due to his service in the Southwest Asia Theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War. The claim was decided on a presumptive basis.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum to the September 2011 VA examination, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination regarding his sleep apnea claim, and obtain any outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination to assess the severity of his left ankle disability and considering the issue of entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a left ankle disorder and granted service connection based on direct evidence showing that the Veteran's current disability is related to her military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ankle disability, bunions on his left foot, and hallux valgus on his right foot do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues related to the Veteran's left knee and ankle disabilities, including a need for an updated VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left foot disorder is etiologically related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition. However, the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's left ankle disorder was incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's right ankle fracture with scar has been rated as 10 percent disabling since November 30, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the nature, cause, and effect of any mental health disorder the Veteran may have had at the time of his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, right foot disability, and right ankle injury are all related to his service. The appeals for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ankle or left knee disability that is attributable to service. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address the current status of his right foot condition and its relationship to service-connected gout.