Ankle Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot/ankle disorder other than gout, arthritis, and bilateral ankle tendonitis, to include bilateral heel spurs, and for a bilateral knee DJD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted as service-connected. The left elbow, left shoulder, right ankle, and right knee disorders are denied due to lack of evidence linking them to service or a service-connected condition. The thoracolumbar spine disorder, testicular pain, chest pain (costochondritis), stomach pain, and headaches are also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 14, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his right ankle disability has been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and right ankle disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle and shoulder conditions have been granted increased ratings, with the right ankle receiving a 10% rating effective September 20, 2010, and the right shoulder receiving a 20% rating effective January 20, 2016.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee and ankle disabilities pre-existed service and were not aggravated by in-service injury or incident. The TDIU claim was denied as his disability rating is less than 60% for the relevant period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for hyperlipidemia, left wrist disability (carpal tunnel syndrome), left ankle strain, and left knee strain have been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to schedule a videoconference hearing. The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial evaluations are pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was granted service connection. Service connection for left elbow, left shoulder, right ankle, and right knee disorders were denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability. Service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, testicular pain, chest pain (costochondritis), stomach pain, and headaches was also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right eye disability and a right ankle disability due to incomplete development. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current disabilities are related to military service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle and low back disabilities are not related to his active service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder and left ankle disabilities are not service-connected due to lack of evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service, and because there is no medical opinion linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he is entitled to TDIU for the entire rating period on appeal.

The Veteran was granted service connection for degenerative change on the articular surface of the distal tibia, left leg. The other claims were denied.,Service connection was not established for residuals of cold injury to the right foot or sleep apnea.

The Board has denied the reopening of the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disorder, low back disorder, and left ankle disorder. The claim for an increased rating for tinnitus is also denied.

The Board has determined that there is new and material evidence to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right ankle injury. However, the weight of the evidence does not support finding a nexus between the current right ankle condition and in-service ankle sprains.

The Veteran's right ankle degenerative joint disease and acquired psychiatric disabilities, including major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety, are found to be related to his service-connected tinnitus. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his left ankle disability, which has worsened since his last examination in July 2013. The examiner should document all ranges of motion and whether there is ankylosis.