Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including low back, right hip, right leg, and right ankle conditions are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and readjudication of the claims. The AOJ will consider all evidence received since the last Supplemental Statements of the Case (SSOC) in conjunction with prior evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral knee and ankle disorders have been rated based on their current severity, with the left knee receiving a higher rating due to its more severe symptoms.

The Veteran's additional left ankle disability is attributed to her own noncompliance with medical instructions, not due to VA treatment. The Board finds that the Veteran has not met the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claims for right ankle, right knee, and low back disorders were denied. The claim for a low back disorder was reopened but remains denied as there is no evidence of arthritis within one year of service separation or that the current condition is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities. The effective date of the grant is set at May 22, 1995.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claims for increased ratings for right ankle and right foot disabilities can be decided.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outdated examination records and outstanding medical evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and obtaining updated treatment records.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding increased ratings for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, right ankle degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine degenerative changes, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic branch), right shoulder degenerative joint disease, left shoulder degenerative joint disease, tinnitus, heart disorder, and other related conditions. The appeals are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's blood clots, left leg are at least as likely as not proximately due to his service-connected posttraumatic degenerative joint disease, left ankle. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for most of his claimed conditions and finds no evidence to support service connection for these disorders. The only condition found by the Board with a possible link to service is dementia, but this was many years after service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left hip disability, and therefore, this claim is denied.,Service connection for low back, bilateral knee, right hip, and bilateral ankle disabilities are not supported by the evidence. The preponderance of the evidence shows these conditions were due to post-service injuries from working in manual labor as a truck driver, roofer, and construction worker.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left ankle disability is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was denied, with the issues of left and right ankle disability ratings being addressed. The claim for CUE in a prior rating decision regarding low back disability was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not constitute an employment handicap as defined by VA regulations, and he is therefore not eligible for vocational rehabilitation benefits.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has been manifested by weakness, giving way, and pain throughout the appeal period. The VA examination reports show that his plantar flexion is limited to no less than 30 degrees and dorsiflexion is limited to no less than 10 degrees, including as a result of pain and after repetitive use or during flare-ups. Despite these limitations, there is no evidence of instability or ankylosis. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability warrants a 10 percent rating under DC 5271.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected right ankle laxity, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran withdrew his claim for individual unemployability due to service connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to determine whether his right leg disability, including poor circulation, gout, arthritis, and blood clots, are related to the service-connected fracture of left femur with history of osteomyelitis and degenerative joint disease of the left knee. The TDIU claim will also be remanded for additional development.