Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verifying his periods of active duty and Army Reserve service, obtaining relevant VA treatment records, and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis. The Board finds that the Veteran's current right ankle, low back, upper back (neck), TBI residuals, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus are not established as service-connected.

The Board found no in-service injury to the Veteran's ankles and denied service connection for a bilateral ankle disability. The low back strain issue remains pending as it requires additional development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and Multiple Personality Disorder), alcohol abuse, right ankle condition, and left ankle condition. The decision is mixed as some issues have been granted while others were not.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been rated based on their direct effects, with a rating of 20 percent for the cervical spine disability. The other conditions are not rated separately as they are considered part of the overall cervical spine disability.

The Board found that neither the cervical spine nor bilateral ankle disorders are due to disease or injury incurred in active service, and denied both claims.

The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 10% for the Veteran's right ankle disability, finding that it meets the criteria for such a rating. The claim for service connection for a right hand disability is denied.

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability from 20 percent to 10 percent, effective August 14, 2010. The reduction was not proper as there was reasonable doubt about whether there had been improvement in the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including C&P examinations and obtaining medical records.

The Veteran's headaches and cervical strain were granted initial compensable ratings, with the headache rating increased to 50% effective December 9, 2009. The right upper radicular nerve group associated with his cervical spine disability was also granted a separate 20% rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ankle disability and cholecystectomy with GERD do not meet the criteria for service connection or an increased rating, respectively. The preponderance of evidence is against both claims.

The Veteran's ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, hand, and back disabilities are not service-connected. Early onset peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is also not service-connected.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was rated at 10 percent prior to September 15, 1999 and increased to 20 percent from November 1, 1999 to September 25, 2008. The appeal is denied as the higher ratings are not warranted based on the evidence.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current left ankle disability is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to his service-connected disabilities. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions, as well as his right hip condition, have been reopened. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the RO increased his back disability rating to 20 percent effective October 3, 2011. The Veteran was not granted any other benefits.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left and right knee disabilities, left and right foot disabilities, and left and right ankle disabilities have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,The VA examinations did not find any current diagnoses of the claimed disabilities.

The Veteran does not have a current right ankle disability that is related to his military service. The Board finds no evidence of any chronic right ankle condition during or after service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied his claim for an initial compensable evaluation for left third finger residuals with minor bony defect, status post neuroma excision. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disorder is addressed in the Remand portion of the decision.