Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's initial claims for higher ratings for his knee disabilities were denied. However, he was granted temporary total evaluations due to right and left total knee replacements.,His claims of service connection for a left ankle disability and a right ankle disability have been reopened.

The Veteran's chronic vasomotor rhinitis with recurrent epistaxis is found to be related to service, and service connection for this condition is granted. The Board finds that additional development is needed for the remaining issues on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including COPD and back disorders, have rendered her unable to maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and occupational background.

The Veteran's appeal of the right ankle disability claim has been withdrawn. The service connection claim for chronic headache disability is denied as there is no current clinical objective evidence of a diagnosable chronic headaches or migraines.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including right and left ankle disorders, hip disorders, upper extremity disorders, leg disorders, neck disorder, back disorder, and headaches. The appeal includes claims of secondary service connection.,The Veteran seeks service connection for surgical complications of a pregnancy that occurred prior to her entry into active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for further evidentiary development, including obtaining VA treatment records from North Texas Healthcare System and ensuring all pertinent treatment records are associated with the claims file.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial of his claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, back disability, and right ankle disability is being remanded due to issues related to obtaining medical examinations and opinions. The VA will need to obtain records from SSA and schedule appropriate VA examinations.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was rated at 20 percent from November 26, 2008 to September 12, 2014. A higher rating of 30 percent is granted for this period due to ankylosis in dorsiflexion between 0 and 10 degrees. The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis was rated at 10 percent from November 26, 2008 to September 12, 2014. No higher rating is granted for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, back disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right leg disorder, and left leg disorder. The Veteran's conditions were not found to be related to her service or secondary to her service-connected pes planus.,Service connection was denied for each of the Veteran’s claimed disabilities as they are not shown to have been incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and to ensure all relevant records are obtained. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for the service-connected left ankle injury with degenerative joint disease, as well as TDIU, will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and determine if the Veteran experienced any additional disability due to his left ankle surgeries, which may have been caused by VA carelessness or negligence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence of arthritis within one year of discharge and that any current right knee disability is not related to service or his service-connected left knee disability. The remaining claims are pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for an orthopedic examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's neck, right and left ankle, and left elbow disabilities.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 5271. His bilateral shin splints are not rated higher as they do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's concentration disorder and leg/ankle pain are not related to service, either directly or due to undiagnosed illness. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle and foot disabilities are not related to his active service, including an in-service ankle sprain. As such, he is not entitled to service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for depression, a neck disability, and left ankle disability. However, the Veteran's claims for increased ratings are denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability is at least as likely as not related to his in-service right ankle sprain, but less likely than not permanently aggravated by it. The case is therefore remanded for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's initial rating claims for lumbar spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease, bilateral pes planus, and left ankle disorder have been granted. The claim for a left knee disorder has been withdrawn.,Service connection was established for grade IV chondromalacia of distal left intermediate cuneiform and remote avulsion of the left anterior talofibular ligament distal fibula.