Ankle Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for SLE, chronic urticaria, migraine headaches, anemia, depression, ankle disorder, bladder infections, and tunnel vision. The evidence received since the August 2004 denial relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's service connection for right Achilles tendonitis as secondary to residuals of a right ankle fracture is granted. The issue of an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right ankle fracture, including the right Achilles tendonitis, is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The right ankle disability was evaluated as 10 percent prior to January 9, 2013, and 20 percent from that date onwards. Service connection for a lung condition and lumbar spine disability were not established.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine and right ankle disability, as well as his increased ratings for PTSD, right ankle disability, seizure disorder, and TBI were denied. The effective date for the award of a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) was not earlier than April 29, 2002.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD with bipolar disorder was granted, and an initial disability rating of 70 percent was assigned.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine and left ankle sprain disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ankle orthopedic disability, which included arthritis and limited motion, did not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent. The current 20 percent rating was upheld as appropriate for marked limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle impingement with tendonitis warrants a disability rating of 20 percent, as his range of motion is limited to approximately half of its normal range.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's migraines have resulted in very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a maximum schedular rating of 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination of his left ankle disability and an opinion regarding the etiology of his bilateral knee condition.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and residuals of a bilateral leg injury, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not have their onset in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar strain and right ankle strain are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability, lower back disability, bilateral ankle disability, IBS with residuals of a parasite infection, and headaches have already been granted by the AMC.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete development, specifically failing to obtain a supplemental VA medical opinion for the lumbar spine and rescheduling an examination for the right ankle. The Veteran's service records show complaints of back pain in service and post-service right ankle surgeries.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a video-conference hearing and will handle any additional development as needed.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral knee strain, early mild degenerative joint disease/osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees (slight spurring posterior patella), and bilateral ankle strain, claimed as residuals of bilateral leg fractures. The case must be remanded to obtain a supplemental medical opinion addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as he is currently gainfully employed and his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to obtain private treatment records and an adequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's left ankle disability. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for Reiter's syndrome, which was initially granted in June 2010 and subsequently increased to 60 percent effective January 1, 2009, has been denied. The Board remanded the case for additional development.