Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's left ankle disability is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the low back disability. The initial rating claim remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle and left knee conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-service existence and no medical opinion linking these conditions to service. The appellant's claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that it was aggravated by active service. Service connection is denied for gout tophaceous arthritis.

The Veteran's combined rating is 50%, and his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim for a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his right knee disability claim. The Veteran's right ankle disability was assigned a maximum 40 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle disability, diagnosed as arthralgia manifested by painful motion, loss of range of motion, incoordination and weakened movement, is attributable to service.

The Veteran is seeking compensation for non-union of the left ankle, which resulted from a VA hospitalization and surgery in October 2007. The case has been remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding additional disability caused by negligence or lack of foreseeability.

The Veteran's discharge from active duty was due to her service-connected disabilities, and she is now eligible for educational assistance under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left ankle disability, bilateral hand disability, or asthma. The preponderance of evidence is against service connection for these conditions on both direct and presumptive grounds.

The Veteran's back condition is granted service connection, but his left ankle disability and acquired psychiatric disabilities are denied. The hearing loss claim remains pending.

The Board has granted the appellant's requests to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for low back disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, and gout and arthritis of multiple joints. The July 1979 rating decision denying right knee disability is not found to contain CUE.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, either individually or through their combined-effect thereof, do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work experience.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability for the back or right ankle, and thus service connection cannot be granted. The Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and left ankle disabilities are remanded to obtain additional medical opinion regarding these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the remaining issues on appeal due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right hand injury, right knee disability, and bilateral hip conditions, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating and it is reasonably shown that, by virtue of his service-connected disabilities, he is unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and etiology opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The issue of whether clear and unmistakable error (CUE) is present in a February 2009 rating decision that denied service connection for a left ankle disorder remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, but denied service connection for left and right ankle sprains, right Achilles tendonitis, and right foot fracture residuals.,The Veteran's low back disability is presumed to have been incurred in service due to the nature of his military occupational specialty.