Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for all issues, including service connection claims.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current osteoarthritis of the left hand, right hand, and right ankle to his active duty service. The Veteran's claims for these conditions were denied.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable rating for his right ankle disability was granted in March 2008, and a subsequent 10 percent rating was assigned effective September 24, 2007. The RO also granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss with an initial 20 percent evaluation effective the same date.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and conflicting evidence regarding the Veteran's right ankle condition.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a chronic ankle or knee disability related to service, and the Veteran's current disabilities are not etiologically linked to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and reviewing all available treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the extent of his service-connected left ankle disability, including pain and functional loss. The case will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature, onset, and etiology of any current headaches, low back disorder, bilateral leg and ankle disorder, hip disorder, and PFB.

The Veteran's claims for non-service connected pension, service connection for bilateral foot disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder were denied. The claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy was also denied.,No current diagnosis of bilateral lower extremity neuropathy was found in the evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative joint disease, left hip arthritis, left knee strain, and left ankle ligament sprain do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of his claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a bilateral ankle disorder, including as due to an undiagnosed illness, is granted based on presumptive service connection under the provisions of the Persian Gulf War Veterans' Act.

The Veteran's right ankle disorder is not shown to be related to service, and the Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim.,VA examination revealed no current right or left knee disability. The Veteran reported pain in service but there was no medical record documentation until 2011.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for left ankle strain is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal related to this issue.,The effective date of the 60 percent disability rating for service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) of the lumbar spine is set at July 12, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has been rated at 40 percent, the maximum schedular rating for a foot injury with loss of use. The temporary total rating beyond April 1, 2014, was denied.

The Veteran's GERD with gastritis and hiatal hernia is rated at 10 percent, effective September 8, 2015. The Veteran's left ankle fracture is also rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot/ankle condition is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further examination. The claims file will be reviewed, additional records obtained, and an appropriate VA examination will be scheduled.

The Veteran's left ankle and nerve disabilities have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent since December 2011, prior to his January 9, 2012 surgery. After this date, he is entitled to a higher disability rating based on loss of use of the left foot.