Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her bilateral knee and ankle disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that her conditions warranted higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was not found to meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to August 4, 2010. From August 4, 2010, his disability is rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective January 4, 2011. His gunshot wound residuals of the right ankle are currently rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's hypertension is service-connected, and the Board has also granted service connection for his status post brain stem infarct as secondary to his now service-connected hypertension. The labyrinthitis and right ankle disorder are also found to be related to the now service-connected status post brain stem infarct.,Special monthly compensation on the need for aid and attendance of another person is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and inadequate VA examination opinions regarding the appellant's claimed left ankle disorder and back condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disorder, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, left ankle sprain, and right ankle sprain. The Veteran's current diagnoses of chronic sinusitis, ulcerative colitis, mechanical low back pain and degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been assigned initial ratings.

The Board found no evidence linking the current right foot/ankle arthritis to service, and denied the claim of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were all granted, with the exception of a claim seeking an earlier effective date for his right knee disability.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for service-connected headaches, effective October 7, 2015. The Veteran's headaches have been manifested by characteristic prostrating attacks averaging once per month since that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death, and to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals, including those for increased ratings and service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current respiratory disorder, bilateral knee disability, or bilateral ankle disability. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right foot and ankle disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a compensable rating for his service-connected fracture of the left fifth metatarsal. The decision also determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for right foot and ankle trauma.

The Board has vacated the previous decision and remanded the case for further evidentiary development. The Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right ankle disability, and depression are now before the Board.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of sleep apnea and readjudication of his service connection claims.

The Veteran seeks service connection for low back, neck, and right lower extremity disabilities. The Board finds that additional VA examinations are necessary to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was found to be asymptomatic after December 31, 2005. The Board granted a disability rating of 10 percent from July 24, 2003 (the date his claim was received) to December 31, 2005.,The Veteran's hepatitis C is not entitled to a compensable rating since December 31, 2005.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, respiratory failure due to COPD, is related to his service-connected shell fragment wound of the right chest status post removal of 2.5 inches of the rib, Muscle Group XXI.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of the claimed conditions, including right foot pain, left leg pain, inability to walk fast, inability to put pressure on fingers, right ankle disability, back disability, tendonitis of the left elbow, bilateral hearing loss disorder, psychiatric disability (claimed as bipolar disorder), diabetes mellitus, visual acuity disorder (claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus), peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities (claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus), and kidney failure (claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus).