Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a calcaneal bone spur of the right ankle and a chronic cough has been denied. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis for these conditions, and the Veteran does not have a current disability related to his in-service ankle sprain.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected bilateral lower extremity disabilities and their impact on his ability to use his legs with prosthetics.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the claims of service connection and increased ratings, including obtaining a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is service-connected, but his bilateral ankle, calf, and knee pain was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.,There is no current disability for the ankles, calves, or knees.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is not related to the Veteran's active service and is not secondary to his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and determine any functional limitations due to pain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right lower extremity disability, including his service-connected right knee condition and other aspects of the limb, does not meet the criteria for a higher rate of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals from a left ankle injury and his back condition, secondary to a left ankle injury, are etiologically related to service. Therefore, both claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has found that more development is necessary prior to final adjudication of the claims on appeal, including a new VA examination for the Veteran's left ankle disability and an opinion regarding whether his bilateral knee disability is related to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the appellant's current right ankle disability had its clinical onset during his verified period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) on August 21, 1960. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination of his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's left ankle injury residuals were initially rated at 10 percent prior to April 24, 2013. From that date forward, the disability was rated as 10 percent.

The Veteran's low back disability is found to be etiologically related to his service.,The Veteran's left ankle disability is found to be etiologically related to his service.

The Veteran's service-connected post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the right ankle does not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection cannot be granted for these disabilities.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was initially rated at 10 percent prior to June 23, 2014. Since then, a higher rating of 30 percent has been denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, was denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not currently have a current diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus his claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current foot disabilities are not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection for residuals of cold injuries to the feet. The low back and hip disorders are found to be secondary to the Veteran's PTSD.