Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that reducing the disability rating for traumatic arthritis of the left ankle from 20 percent to 10 percent, effective October 1, 2012, was improper and restored the original 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's sinusitis has been rated at 30 percent since December 8, 2006. The Board also granted a TDIU effective from December 8, 2006, based on the combined impact of multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to outstanding private treatment records and clarification on whether the Veteran wishes to withdraw her claim for service connection of bilateral shoulders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment during the period from December 28, 2009 to September 30, 2011.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's right ankle degenerative arthritis, effective April 24, 2015.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ankle arthritis is not related to her service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, knee, and shoulder disorders. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease that would warrant presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's tarsal tunnel syndrome and DJD of the right foot and ankle were rated at 10 percent prior to April 24, 2014. The Veteran's left foot and ankle DJD was also rated at 10 percent prior to February 2, 2013, but a separate rating for left tarsal tunnel syndrome is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hip disability, a left knee disability, and disabilities manifested by pain in the left ankle/foot and right ankle/foot (other than from the service-connected right foot drop).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting right ankle disability was aggravated during service, and therefore grants service connection for the aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis was first diagnosed during active service and is therefore granted service connection. The issue of service connection for a left ankle disability remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right ankle condition, left ankle condition, and low back condition. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the claims for entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability, a left knee disability, a lower back disability, a sleep disorder, hypertension, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, acid reflux disease, a left ankle disability, a right ankle disability, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right ankle residuals is denied as a matter of law because she failed to report to a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability due to aggravation of a preexisting condition. Additionally, the effective date for the 30 percent rating for hyperhidrosis is being granted prior to June 8, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete development and need for additional medical opinions regarding his left ankle condition and respiratory disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hip disorders and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.,The VA examiners in January 2010 and July 2016 concluded that the Veteran does not have a bilateral hip disorder based on reduced range of motion with objective evidence of pain on motion.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not otherwise related to his military service.,There is no evidence of a current bilateral ankle disability that can be linked to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective January 28, 2016. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of entitlement to an initial compensable rating prior to this date or for nonservice-connected pension benefits due to his service-connected disabilities and inability to secure or follow substantial gainful employment.