Ankle Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and a left ankle disability, including as due to a right ankle disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these disabilities are related to service or manifested within one year of separation.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a right ankle disability due to new evidence received since the October 2003 denial. The Veteran's current right ankle disability is found to be related to his in-service parachute jump injury.,Service connection is granted for a right ankle disability, with consideration of continuity of symptomatology from service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC at a higher rate based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for various service-connected disabilities have been denied. The evidence does not support the assignment of any higher ratings.

The Veteran's temporary total rating for convalescence following right ankle arthroscopy on May 17, 2010 is extended through November 17, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any right ankle, bilateral foot, left knee iliotibial tendonitis, or lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, IVDS and stenosis disabilities. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including the provision of VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of his claimed respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurological, orthopedic, and psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the Veteran's claim can be decided, and thus the case is being remanded to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that there is at least a reasonable doubt as to whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially in causing his death due to metastatic prostate cancer. The claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is therefore granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination and review of private treatment records. The Veteran's right foot/ankle disability is to be evaluated in light of all available evidence.

The Veteran's claims for left ankle osteoarthritis and a left hammer toe deformity were granted as secondary to his service-connected left pes planus with metatarsalgia. The effective date of the grant is set at April 1, 2015.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has been rated at 30 percent since June 8, 2010. The appeal is denied as the criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a supplemental opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's bilateral foot and ankle arthritis is a result of his service-connected bilateral knee condition. The Board finds that the Veteran has met the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, necessitating the grant of SMC at the aid and attendance rate.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left ankle disability, lower back disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied. The VA has provided appropriate examinations and considered all relevant evidence of record.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at the maximum available rating of 20 percent.,Prior to December 4, 2011, the Veteran's low back disability was rated at 20 percent. Since then, it has been rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional evidentiary development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his left ankle disability.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a right ankle disability, which he claims was incurred during his active duty. The Board has determined that additional development and medical opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the claim.

The Veteran's initial increased evaluations for his service-connected left ankle sprain and right foot partial tendon tear with sprain, status post surgery, have been granted. The current ratings are 20 percent for the left ankle sprain and 30 percent for the right foot condition.