Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for gout of his bilateral ankles or knees, as there is no evidence of a diagnosis of gout during service and the current diagnoses are not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle arthritis and a bilateral hand disability were denied. The claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 with intervertebral disc syndrome prior to May 27, 2008 was also denied. However, the Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 20 percent for this disability from May 27, 2008 onwards remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from VA facilities and any outstanding treatment records.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current neck disorder or bilateral ankle disorder, and thus the Veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the Veteran's submission of a September 2015 statement and an Informal Hearing Presentation. The case will be returned to the AOJ for readjudication.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for right ankle and low back disabilities. He contends that he injured his right ankle while carrying ship's supplies in late 1958, which caused or aggravated his low back disability.

The Veteran's additional left ankle disability was caused by an event not reasonably foreseeable, and the Board finds that VA care did not cause this disability.

The Veteran's left ankle disability was rated at 10 percent prior to December 1, 2010 and at 30 percent as of December 1, 2010. The Board found the evidence in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran had moderate or marked limited motion of the left ankle prior to December 1, 2010, resulting in a grant of a 20 percent rating for that period. As of December 1, 2010, the evidence supported ankylosis in plantar flexion less than 30 degrees, warranting a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor was first diagnosed and treated during service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current right ankle condition to service, and denied his claim for service connection. For his lumbar spine disability, the Board determined that a rating in excess of 20 percent was not warranted based on the medical evidence provided.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disorder and left ankle disorder. The examiner opined that the left ankle disorder is less likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected back and/or right knee disability, but did not address the aggravation question.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant in a March 2017 written statement.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle tendonitis and arthritis, as well as lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disorders. The acquired psychiatric disorder is not found to be related to his service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot and ankle disabilities, as well as erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus, are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of his right ankle disability and service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder have been denied. The Board found no evidence of ankylosis in the right ankle, and there is no current diagnosis of a gastrointestinal disorder.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities are rated at 20 percent each, the maximum under DC 5271 for limitation of motion.,Bilateral plantar fasciitis is not service-connected as it is not shown to be related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left ankle disabilities require the use of braces, which tend to wear out his clothing. The Board granted a clothing allowance for the year 2016 based on this.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current residuals of a traumatic brain injury or left ankle injury related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a new opinion on his ability to function in an occupational environment due to his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his respiratory and ankle conditions, as well as the severity of his bilateral plantar fasciitis.