Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for the merits of the case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and SSA records and scheduling a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her left leg and back conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration due to additional evidence obtained by the AOJ, and the Veteran's appeal is now pending with the AOJ.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and extension of a temporary total rating was denied. The VA examiner found that the left ankle sprain did not meet criteria for higher ratings or an extension of the temporary total rating.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred during treatment at the Southeast Georgia Health System Camden Campus on July 21, 2011 is denied because the condition was not a medical emergency and a VA facility was feasibly available.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The issues on appeal were previously about service connection for a right and left ankle disability, but as the Veteran died, no further action can be taken.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete active duty service treatment records and the need for further examinations regarding each of the disabilities on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records from SSA and VA/VA clinics, as well as any private treatment records. A new VA examination will also be scheduled.

The Veteran's current chronic headaches are not service-connected as they were not manifest during or within one year after his periods of active duty, and there is no evidence linking them to service. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder and left ankle strain disabilities meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for a right ankle disability is not addressed in the decision. The Veteran's PTSD rating remains at 50 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including psychiatric disorders and musculoskeletal conditions.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is found to be etiologically related to a disease, injury, or event that occurred during service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule a VA examination for his right ankle disability. The issues of increased ratings for bipolar disorder, knee osteoarthritis, and initial rating for the right ankle sprain are also pending.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right ankle disorder is directly caused by or aggravated by his service-connected left and right knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic cough and assigned a 20 percent rating for the back disability. Other disabilities have been rated based on their specific criteria.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU for the entire appeals period.

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

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right ankle disorder, including strain with medial ankle tenderness and x-ray evidence of calcaneal and navicular enthesophyte, is related to his military service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.