Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's TBI is not productive of any current symptoms or manifestations, and his left ankle disability does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,The Veteran's left ankle disability was not productive of loss of use of the foot, ankylosis, or the functional equivalent thereof. The Veteran is not so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities and he does not have a service-connected disability rated 100 percent.

The Board dismissed all issues on appeal due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including additional examinations and opinions to address the severity of his service-connected psychiatric and muscle disabilities, as well as claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, hip, knee, or ankle disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a current right ankle disorder and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left ankle or low back disorder, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, which was previously rated as 10 percent disabling, is now rated at 20 percent effective from March 25, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left ankle DJD disabilities cause marked interference with employment, warranting an extraschedular rating.

The Board found clear and unmistakable error in its September 2011 decision denying an extraschedular rating for the Veteran's right and left ankle DJD, as it did not consider all relevant evidence including the November 2008 VA examination report which noted the impact of pain medication on sedentary employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have diagnosed conditions of bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy, a bilateral hip disorder, a bilateral ankle disorder, or a bilateral knee disorder. The cervical spine disorder is also denied as it was not caused by service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty. The arthritis was not exhibited within the first post-service year.

The Veteran's low back disability is related to his military service, and he has right ankle arthritis that is also related to his service. The Veteran's right knee disability requires further examination as it may be aggravated by other conditions.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus condition does not require any specific theory of service connection.

The Veteran was found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities from December 5, 1996, to September 9, 1997. He is also entitled to an additional allowance of DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1311(a)(2) as he was rated totally disabling for a continuous period of at least eight years immediately preceding his death.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a low back disorder or chronic headache disorder (migraines) incurred in service. The Veteran's left knee and left ankle disorders are not shown to be related to her period of active duty.

The Board found that the appellant did not sustain trauma to his left hand during service and therefore denied service connection for residuals of trauma to the fingers of the left hand. The right ankle disability claim is pending due to conflicting evidence regarding its onset.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected gunshot wound, left knee degenerative joint disease, and left ankle degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and right wrist disorders have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that is related to her military service. The claim for service connection for the left great toe disorder remains pending further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for osteoarthritis (other than the right ankle and cervical and lumbar spine) has been denied. The issue of service connection for a cervical spine disability remains pending, as does the claim for service connection for a digestive disorder, claimed as GERD.

The Veteran's claim for a separate rating for his knee condition secondary to the ankle condition was denied. The right ankle disability is rated at 30 percent from October 1, 2014 onwards.,The Veteran's migraines are rated at 50 percent and granted TDIU based on this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and a VA examination to determine the etiology of his left ankle disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to procedural issues and the need for additional evidence, including medical records from November 11, 2011 onwards.