Ankle Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing VA examinations and unobtained SSA records.

The Board has granted service connection for hematuria and a left ankle disability, finding that the current disabilities are related to service. The low back disability claim is remanded as an adequate opinion was not provided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment for which the Veteran's education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records, as well as for a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of any diagnosed right hand and right ankle disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or left ankle disorder.

The Veteran's right ankle degenerative joint disease, as manifested by limited motion and pain, warrants a 10 percent rating under the applicable diagnostic codes. The claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the provision of addendum opinions to address his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee strain is related to his military service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, and heart palpitations are not service-connected. The Veteran's back condition is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability related to his active duty service. His left ankle disability was also not shown to be caused by any period of service. Lastly, the Board found that the current heart palpitations are secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and right ankle disorders did not manifest during service, are not related to service, and have no connection with a service-connected disability. As such, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disorder and right ankle disability were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board denied the claims of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disorder and an increased rating for residuals of right ankle fracture.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 60 percent for prostate cancer status post radical prostatectomy due to herbicide exposure, entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative changes, and entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right ankle strain.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the service connection claims related to low back, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, bilateral ankle, and right foot disabilities. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to further consider these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease, finding that the Veteran's current back pain is related to her in-service injuries. Service connection was denied for left ankle disorder due to lack of a causal link between the current condition and active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the increased rating for right ankle status post triple arthrodesis.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure. The right ankle disability claim is remanded as there was an inadequate opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various joint disorders, including arthritis of the shoulders, wrists, hands, knees, and ankles. The Board has determined that further investigation into his pre-existing conditions during military service is necessary.

The Veteran's left ankle sprain does not present such an exceptional or unusual disability picture with related factors as marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization so as to render impractical the application of the regular schedular standards, and therefore, entitlement to an extraschedular rating is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and adjudication of his claims, including right ankle traumatic arthritis and individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion and updating the Veteran's treatment records. The issues on appeal are whether service connection should be granted for fibromyalgia and its residuals of a right ankle disability.