Ankle Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current right ankle or right shoulder disability, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examinations and treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right ankle strain, and tension headaches, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since September 1, 2013.

The Veteran's joint pains are attributed to known clinical diagnoses of degenerative conditions and are not related to his active service, including exposure to environmental hazards in the Persian Gulf.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to new evidence submitted since the final denial. The claim is granted as these conditions are found to be related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any residuals of rheumatic fever or a disability related to rheumatic fever at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran withdrew all his claims on appeal, including the increased rating and initial rating claims.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of all pending claims before the Board.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at a maximum of 40 percent, the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 5262. The condition is manifested by pain, stiffness, weakness, and limited range of motion necessitating use of a brace and cane.

The Veteran's right and left ankle, knee, and hand arthritis are found to have been caused by in-service incidents. Service connection is granted for all six conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disease and TDIU. The Veteran was found not to have a current disability related to kidney disease, and his combined rating did not meet the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that a cervical spine disability was incurred in service and granted service connection for it. The lumbar spine, left leg (including ankle and knee disorders), right wrist, right knee, and right arm disabilities were not shown to be related to service or any presumptive exposure basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evidentiary development, including a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's case due to inadequate examination reports and outstanding VA treatment records. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the right ankle disability claim.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, bilateral wrist disability, bilateral knee disability, left ankle disability, bipolar disorder, and a low heart rate. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee and ankle conditions are not related to his service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disability of the right foot was denied as there is no evidence of carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on VA's part with respect to the May 2010 right foot ostectomy and subsequent treatment for a MRSA infection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The combined effect of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities has rendered him unemployable/unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the schedular requirements for TDIU eligibility.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for post-operative pigmented nodular tenosynovitis left ankle.