Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran is granted a compensable rating for his right ankle sprain prior to December 19, 2012 and a rating in excess of 10 percent from that date onwards.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis and increased the disability rating for ankle disability to 30 percent, effective May 13, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues, including claims for service connection and evaluations for various conditions. The Board has determined that a videoconference hearing is required due to the Veteran's request.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the Veteran's claimed right ankle, back, bilateral ingrown toenail(s), and right shoulder disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding of a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current right ankle disability and denied service connection for this condition. For his low back disability, the Board determined there was no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic disease, and thus denied service connection on a direct basis.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnoses, including post-polio syndrome and its associated right ankle/foot disorders, are not causally or etiologically related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his claims for higher ratings were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss from January 30, 2001 and a rating in excess of 10 percent from August 19, 2003 to April 2, 2005 was denied. The Board also found that the criteria for a TDIU prior to April 2, 2005 were not met.

The Board has remanded the case to arrange for an orthopedics examination of the Veteran to determine the nature and etiology of all of his current knee, leg, and ankle disabilities. The examiner is asked to furnish an opinion as to whether each disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining complete VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to assess the current severity of his disabilities. The Veteran must also be scheduled for a new examination before service connection can be decided on the merits for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for ulcerative colitis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left knee strain, and right ankle strain. The conditions are considered secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ankle disability did not manifest in service or within one year thereafter and is not related to his active military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a current left ankle or cervical spine disability and determined that any pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by service. Therefore, the Veteran's claims for secondary service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle disability is not related to or caused by active military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for his left and right ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities, as he reported worsening symptoms since the last examination in 2012.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD, tinnitus, degenerative joint disease of the left ankle, and degenerative joint disease of the right ankle have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 30% rating for his service-connected right ankle disability has been granted. The Board also found that the criteria for schedular TDIU are met due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability is not related to service, despite his contentions. The VA examinations and opinions concluded that the current left knee condition is less likely than not caused by a service injury.,There is no evidence of a diagnosed left ankle disability in service or at any time since service. The VA examination found the Veteran's left ankle to be normal.