Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the medical evidence and a need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims.

The Veteran's left ankle disability was productive of moderate limited motion from April 14, 2015 to November 20, 2015.,For the period after November 20, 2015, an evaluation in excess of 10 percent is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to outstanding VA treatment records and scheduling of examinations for his cervical spine, right ankle, and right eye disorders. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be reconsidered.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to assess his right ankle disability and left hip disability. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right ankle disability has been granted, with a current rating of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the appellant's left knee, left ankle, and migraine headache disorders.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation and a total rating for compensation on the basis of individual unemployability was denied. The current rating for arthritis and Achilles tendinopathy of the left ankle is 20 percent, which adequately reflects the Veteran's symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including adjustment disorder with depressed mood, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right ankle sprain residuals, left foot fracture residuals, tinnitus, and gastroesophageal reflux disease, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU on a schedular basis.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure. The claims for higher ratings for left ankle disability, left ankle scar, and right foot disability are being remanded.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was rated at 20 percent effective June 3, 2008. The appellant requested an earlier effective date for CRSC benefits based on the Veteran's service-connected ulcer condition, but this was denied as the Department of the Air Force (USAF) had not determined that the ulcer condition was combat-related.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for an additional VA examination to determine the effect of his service-connected disabilities on his employability. The examiner must consider the Veteran's complaints of constant pain and occurrences of immobility due to his bilateral leg disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for left knee, sleep apnea, and left ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ankle disorders are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any injury, illness, or incident during service. Therefore, service connection for residuals of a right ankle sprain was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for allergies and a left ankle disability, allowing these claims to be reviewed on their merits.,For the asthma claim, the Veteran is currently rated at 30 percent from January 11, 2010. For hemorrhoids, he is currently rated at 10 percent since November 25, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral ankle disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral ankle osteoarthritis is related to his service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inconsistencies and inadequacy of the September 2015 VA medical opinion, as well as failure to address specific records identified in the August 2015 remand.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his conditions are not shown to be related to military service.