Ankle Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder and finds that the Veteran's current back disability is less likely than not related to his military service. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ankle arthritis and plantar fasciitis of the left foot are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's left ankle disability was granted service connection and rated at 30 percent effective June 20, 2014. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that it is related to his service-connected plantar fasciitis.

The Board denied all issues related to the Veteran's claims, finding that his right ankle disability did not warrant a compensable rating and that his knee disabilities were rated appropriately. The effective dates for service connection of his knee conditions were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional disability and employment records from the State of Washington regarding his award of state disability benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right heel injury was denied. The claim for reopening the left hand and fingers disability was granted, but no current disability is shown at this time. Service connection for secondary disabilities related to the ankle, eye, neck, and ring finger injuries were not established.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and a 10 percent rating for chronic left ankle strain, finding that the Veteran's symptoms meet the criteria for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular rating requirement for assignment of a TDIU and he is reasonably shown to be unable to secure or follow a substantial gainful occupation as a result of these disabilities. The claim for increase in left shoulder disability remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's postoperative right ankle disability warrants referral for consideration of an extraschedular rating, and this case is being remanded to allow VA to consider this matter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of a right jaw or right ankle disability, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle and right knee disorders in February 2007. The Veteran's claims of reopening these issues are still pending.,The Veteran has not submitted new and material evidence to reopen his claim of service connection for a lumbosacral spine disorder, psychiatric disability including PTSD, or tinea cruris.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed cervical spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities are not related to his active service or any incident of service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, left shoulder disability, lower respiratory disease, gastrointestinal disability, and headache disability. The appeals were remanded multiple times but ultimately denied.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is characterized by pain, instability, and limitation of motion that more nearly approximates marked limitation of ankle motion. The Board finds a rating in excess of 10 percent for the right ankle disability is warranted.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disorder, residuals of TBI, and hepatitis C as the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral ankle disability is caused by his service-connected bilateral pes planus, and therefore grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, characterized by deformity commensurate with malunion of the tibia and fibula with marked ankle disability, has been rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 5262. The Board finds that this rating is appropriate given the evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and an increased rating for his right ankle fracture residuals with DJD, finding that the evidence did not support granting either claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle and right knee disabilities are related to an injury sustained during Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) in July 1989, which is considered service-connected.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic left ankle or cervical spine disability during service, and the preponderance of the evidence is against finding that any current disabilities are related to service. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus and lumbosacral strain were not shown to have caused or aggravated his claimed disabilities.