Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral eye disability, renal dysfunction, urinary incontinence, heart disability, fecal incontinence, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, low back disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral ankle disabilities, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right ankle condition warrants a 10 percent disability rating effective January 20, 2014.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for an ankle disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and an initial rating higher than 30 percent for generalized anxiety disorder. The evidence did not support the Veteran's assertions of in-service injury or continuous symptoms, and his lay statements were found to be not credible.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his abnormal mitral valve with congested heart failure and multiple knee injuries, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to July 26, 2013. Since then, he has been in receipt of special monthly compensation (SMC) due to aid and attendance/housebound.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for the issues of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral leg condition, carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, insomnia/sleep disturbances, left ankle condition, migraine headaches, and ovarian cysts.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals on all issues, and the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a qualifying left foot, ankle, or knee disability for service connection and denied all claims. The claim for right carpal tunnel syndrome was previously denied but new evidence received since the last denial is found to be material.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for a lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, cervical spine disability, and arthritis of the bilateral hips. The Veteran's claims for other disabilities are also granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records and a current examination.

The Board found no evidence of a diagnosed left ankle disability and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of any clinically ascertainable knee or ankle disability at the time of his separation from service.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea is denied. The Veteran has a CPAP machine, but does not have respiratory failure with cor pulmonale requiring a tracheostomy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left hip disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The issue of service connection for a left ankle disability remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected Hodgkin's disease was granted with a rating of 30 percent.,Increased ratings for the right and left ankle disabilities were granted, each at a 20 percent rating effective February 7, 2011.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at the maximum allowable under the applicable rating criteria, and his bilateral hearing loss is not compensable prior to September 10, 2014. The appeal has been granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's alopecia areata, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability do not warrant a compensable rating or service connection due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disability, including degenerative arthritis and Achilles tendonitis, did not have its onset in service or is otherwise related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to provide proper notice of a change in his hearing request. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining service records and verifying dates of active duty and inactive duty training. The Veteran's left ankle condition will be evaluated by a medical examiner.