Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral ankle, knee, shoulder, and lumbar spine disabilities are related to his active duty service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The case is being remanded for further development, including new examinations and efforts to obtain service treatment records. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his service personnel records and VA treatment records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee, ankle, hand, and wrist disabilities are not related to his military service or any service-connected disability. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and active duty.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, characterized by marked limitation of motion without ankylosis, is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board found that none of the Veteran's claimed conditions are related to his service as an ART in the Air Force Reserve, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right hip, bilateral ankle, and bilateral foot disabilities are secondary to his service-connected left varicose vein disability and chronic lumbar strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle disability, including a right ankle sprain and degenerative or traumatic arthritis, is not related to his active military service. The evidence does not show continuity of symptomatology since service or within the presumptive period after service for arthritis.

The Veteran's right ankle, left ankle, and bilateral hearing loss conditions are all found to be related to his service.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's tinea pedis (infections of unknown origins) as it was present during service.

The Veteran's left ankle disability was rated as noncompensable prior to January 25, 2016. Since then, the Veteran has been assigned a 10 percent rating for his left ankle disability. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric, neurological, musculoskeletal, and orthopedic conditions are not related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination. The case will be reconsidered after these are obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Board video conference hearing. The claims of service connection for left and right ankle conditions, as well as the reopening of the sleep apnea claim, are pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current ankle problems and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability did not manifest during service and is not otherwise related to an event or injury in service. The claim for service connection for a right hip disability is denied.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, characterized by pain, stiffness, and limited motion, is currently rated at 20 percent prior to January 26, 2015. The evidence shows that the Veteran experiences marked limitation of motion in his right ankle.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling for moderate limitation of motion. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient medical evidence available for the decision on service connection. The RO is instructed to obtain all relevant VA treatment records and provide a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's right ankle disability and arthritis.

The Veteran is granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis from December 3, 2009, through March 26, 2010. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise and resolved any doubt in favor of granting TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability, diagnosed as 'right ankle sprains with degenerative changes', began in service and continues to this day. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.