Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, left ankle, and neck disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service discharge. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of service connection on any basis.

The Board found that the degree of right ankle impairment caused by associated symptoms is adequately compensated for by the current scheduler rating, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for an extraschedular rating in excess of 20 percent for his post-operative right ankle disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder and entitlement to an initial compensable rating for ligamentous injury of the left ankle prior to March 18, 2016, and a rating in excess of 10 percent after that date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for right ankle, knee, lower leg, upper leg, and hip disabilities are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.,Service connection was also granted for a lower back condition due to very mild/early changes of degenerative disc disease (DDD).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability was not incurred or aggravated in active service and may not be presumed to be service connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his occupational functioning. The issue of entitlement to an extraschedular rating will also be remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder condition, respiratory condition, and right ankle condition. The decision is based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including arthritis and pes cavus in both feet and ankles, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected ankle disabilities and to determine if he qualifies for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations were denied as the evidence did not show that her service-connected conditions warranted higher ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected bilateral knee and ankle disabilities.

The Board has decided the case requires additional development due to conflicting statements and evidence regarding the Veteran's ankle disability. The claim will be returned for further review.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination for the left knee disability and scheduling an examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed left ankle disability. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ankle strain did not meet the criteria for service connection as there was no documented injury during service and the VA examiner ruled out a link between the current condition and service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left tibia scar was denied in May 2013. The evidence submitted since that decision is not new and material.,The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability, gastrointestinal disability (GERD and peptic ulcers), cervical spine disability, degenerative joint disease of the bilateral hips, degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees, degenerative joint disease of the bilateral ankles, degenerative joint disease of the bilateral feet, hemorrhoids, right lower varicose veins, left lower varicose veins, PTSD, right foot bunionectomy scars, left foot bunionectomy scars, and right knee limitation of extension were not incurred in or a result of active duty service.,The Veteran's acne/rosacea/melasma was granted service connection on September 12, 2011, the day after she was discharged from active duty. The effective date for bilateral knee strain was also granted on September 12, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left shoulder disability, but finds that he has arthralgia of the bilateral ankles which is related to his active service. The claim for service connection for bilateral ankle disability is granted.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has been rated at 20 percent since September 8, 2009. The Board granted the maximum available rating for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from October 18, 2010 to April 14, 2015 and then increased to 70 percent thereafter. The left knee subpatellar tendonitis warranted a separate 10 percent rating, while the left ankle sprain did not warrant an increase beyond its current 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or for adaptive equipment only.