Ankle Board decisions

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for posttraumatic arthritis of the right ankle and left ankle, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 22, 2015, for his right ankle disability and entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle disorders due to a lack of new and material evidence for the left knee claim, and because there is no credible evidence linking the current diagnoses to active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pending issue regarding the offset of disability pay, and other issues remain unresolved.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a chronic right ankle disability during service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran's current right ankle arthritis does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision, thus dismissing the case.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disorder, finding that the Veteran's credible account of an in-service injury and subsequent chronic symptoms supports his claim.

The Veteran's left and right ankle sprains have been rated at 10 percent prior to December 15, 2011. Effective December 15, 2011, the ratings for both ankles were increased to 20 percent.

The Veteran's combined rating for service connected disabilities was sufficient to meet the criteria for a TDIU as of May 14, 2010. The Board found that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle and foot arthritis, left ankle tendonitis, and left knee arthritis. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered to be the result of injuries sustained while playing soccer during his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection may be granted, specifically bilateral ankle disability. The claims of entitlement to service connection for pes planus and bilateral hearing loss are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left ankle disability is gouty arthritis, which was not manifest in service or related to his service-connected left knee meniscus tears. Therefore, service connection for bilateral ankle disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to her request for a Travel Board hearing, and these matters are now pending before the Atlanta RO.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee disorder, left knee disorder, or low back disorder related to service. The Veteran's current bilateral ankle disorders are not considered service-connected.,Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is insufficient medical evidence linking the claimed conditions to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to an unclear opinion from a previous VA examination regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left ankle disability and his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records. The claims of service connection, initial rating, and TDIU are all related and must be addressed together.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is not unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's combined disability rating from September 15, 2016 is 80 percent. The competent and probative evidence shows that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from September 15, 2016.

The Veteran's right leg fracture residuals are currently rated at 10 percent, and his right ankle arthritis is separately rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.