Ankle Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability, right ankle disability, and right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various joint disabilities, including arthritis of the hands, feet, legs, and shoulders, were granted. The conditions are considered to be due to natural progression or injury during service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which compensation may be awarded, and therefore service connection for residuals of right ankle sprain is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension and found new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The claims for muscle and joint aches, pulmonary disorder, sinus disorder, and liver disorder were not addressed as they are considered separate issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle and back disabilities are related to service, granting his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's right knee disability, dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, bronchial asthma, bilateral hip disability, left knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, back disability, neck disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are not service connected.

The Veteran's right little finger strain has been manifested by pain and a gap less than 1 inch wide between the fingertip and proximal transverse crease of the palm. The criteria for an initial compensable rating have not been met for any period.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's service connection claims and a need for new VA opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for her claimed bilateral foot, ankle, hip, and leg conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions and failure to address relevant history of injury to the feet.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship of the Veteran's current disabilities to service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings on an extraschedular basis for post-operative left ankle degenerative joint disease and ankylosis was denied by the Board.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine and left ankle disabilities were denied. The VA found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or ankylosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and assessments, particularly regarding his claimed low back disability, neck disability, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The asthma claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment, and the Board finds that his TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is found to be service-connected. Her left ankle disability is also found to be service-connected as secondary to her right ankle disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims of entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disorder and for entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for his diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center in Pueblo, Colorado, on September 30, 2008, and from October 1, 2008, to October 3, 2008, were denied because the services were not rendered for a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claims for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center in Pueblo, Colorado, on September 30, 2008, and from October 1, 2008, to October 3, 2008, were denied because the services were not rendered for a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right ankle condition did not require emergency treatment, and reimbursement for private medical expenses is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of headaches, left leg disability (residuals of broken fibular), left ankle disability, or rectal fissures. The preponderance of evidence is against service connection for all four conditions.