Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for various musculoskeletal disorders, and further examination is needed as the Veteran is currently incarcerated.

The Board has not been able to locate the evidence cited in the May 2011 rating decision, which may constitute new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the service connection claim. The RO is instructed to make all necessary efforts to obtain the Veteran's complete VA treatment records pertaining to his ankles so that the Board can review all evidence submitted.

The Veteran's right ankle arthritis, bilateral flat feet and hammer toes, folliculitis, and hemorrhoids are all found to be related to her service. The Board grants these claims.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence or credible lay statements supporting a current diagnosis of left ankle disability, gastrointestinal disability (gastroenteritis), hypertension, sleep apnea, and allergic rhinitis. Therefore, the Veteran's claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral ankle and knee disorders are not related to his military service, as there is no credible evidence of an in-service injury or disease. The VA examiners concluded that the Veteran's conditions are more likely due to obesity and long-term occupational activities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle and foot disorders are being remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The AOJ should schedule the Veteran for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of his current diagnoses, including whether they are related to military service or aggravated by his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's alcohol abuse is caused by his service-connected PTSD. Therefore, the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is granted.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a need for a videoconference hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C and bilateral ankle myofascial syndrome, including as secondary to frostbite, are pending.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, heel spurs (bilateral feet), hip disorder (bilateral), and knee disorder (bilateral). The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease, status post fractured right ankle, is denied. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against his claim of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome as due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral tinea pedis and residuals of a right ankle fracture. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining the Veteran's service personnel records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hip and ankle disabilities, claiming they are due to arthritis. The Board has remanded the case for a medical opinion regarding whether these disabilities are related to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and secondary service connection, finding no new and material evidence to reopen her previously denied claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various orthopedic disabilities, are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between his active service and these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his right foot and ankle disability.

The Veteran's upper-respiratory disorder, hypertension, bilateral ankle disorder, and erectile dysfunction were not incurred in service or are not proximately due to any service-connected disability.,No effective date was assigned as the claims for these conditions have been denied.

The VA denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disorders, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service or any other presumptive conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities are not related to service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.