Ankle Board decisions

The Board denied all issues on appeal, including service connection for various conditions and a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee disability. The Veteran's left knee was found to have limited flexion but no extension limitation.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability, bilateral knee and low back disabilities as secondary to the left ankle disability, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims are all granted.

The Veteran's chronic body pain, including fibromyalgia and joint/muscle conditions, were not found to be related to service or an undiagnosed illness. The Board denied the claims for these issues.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple joint pain (excluding knees and elbows), respiratory disorder, and sleep disturbance, are not service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a qualifying chronic disability related to his Persian Gulf War service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected heart disability, finding that a rating in excess of 30 percent is not warranted prior to April 1, 2009, and granted a 60 percent rating effective from April 1, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected varicose veins of the left and right legs have resulted in persistent edema, stasis pigmentation, and intermittent ulceration throughout the appeal period. The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for each leg.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing VA medical center records from Little Rock.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ankle disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and to provide a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a left ankle fracture caused his bilateral knee and hip disabilities, thus granting these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of current tinea pedis, and the preexisting bilateral pes planus and left ankle conditions did not meet the criteria for higher initial ratings.

The Board found that the evidence did not substantiate an injury in service or a nexus between any event in service and a current left ankle disorder, thus denying the claim.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has not manifested ankylosis or malunion or nonunion of the tibia and fibula, which are required for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5262 and 5271. As such, his claim for a higher initial rating is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen previously denied claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of right ankle/fibula fracture are currently rated at 40 percent, effective November 24, 2014. The Board has also determined that the criteria for a TDIU have been met as of January 16, 2008.

The Veteran's right wrist fracture residuals are manifested by pain on motion, tenderness, and limited dorsiflexion and palmar flexion. The current 10 percent rating is appropriate as the disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn. The Board does not have jurisdiction to consider the increased rating claim for hypertension with headaches as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in November 2015.

The Board has granted an extension of a temporary total disability rating for the period from March 1, 2010 to October 28, 2010 due to treatment for service-connected status post left ankle arthrodesis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and right ankle disabilities are secondary to his service-connected left knee and right foot disabilities, respectively. The claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not otherwise related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection for a right ankle disability is denied.